CV - Laura K. Field, Ph.D.
Academic Appointments and Affiliations
2026 – 2027 Fellow, “Facing the Future,” Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna
2026 – present Scholar in Residence, Niskanen Center, Washington, DC
2025 – 2026 Nonresident Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC
2024 – present Senior Associate. Illiberalism Studies Program, George Washington University.
2020 – 2025 Senior Fellow, Niskanen Center, Washington, DC
2019 – present Scholar in Residence, American University, School of International Service
2014 – 2018 Professorial Lecturer, American University, School of International Service
2013 – 2014 Visiting Assistant Professor, Georgetown University, Department of Government
2011 – 2013 Postdoctoral Fellow, Rhodes College, Department of Political Science
Education
Ph.D. in Government, University of Texas at Austin, December 2011
M.A. in Political Science, University of Alberta, May 2005
B.A. (Honors) in Political Science, University of Alberta, May 2003
Academic Publications - Book
Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right. Princeton University Press (full trade), November 2025. Paperback forthcoming in April 2027, and translations forthcoming in Polish, Korean, French, and Chinese.
A Financial Times Best Book of the Year
Winner of the PROSE Award in Government and Politics, Association of American Publishers
Longlisted for the Edwards Book Award, Rodel Institute
Winner of the Best Book Award, American Political Thought Section of the American Political Science Association
Reviews and Discussions in: The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Los Angeles Review of Books, Reason, Commonweal, The Observer, Jacobin, The UnPopulist, Project Syndicate, Splice Today, Washington Monthly, Literary Review, Quillette, The Dispatch, Law & Liberty, The University Bookman, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Naked Capitalism, The Giving Review, Perspectives on Political Science, Cass Sunstein’s Substack, and Rod Dreher’s Substack; Publishers Weekly (Starred Review), and Foreword (Starred Review).
International coverage in Der Spiegel, Die Furche , Die Presse, and Die Zeit (Germany/Austria), L’Express, Le Monde and Revue Francaise de Science Politique (France), Weekendavisen and Informacion (Denmark), Haaretz (Israel), Chosun (South Korea), Nueva Sociedad (Latin America), Oxford Political Review.
Academic Publications - Reviews, Articles, and Book Chapters
“Patrick Deneen vs. 1619: Comparing Cultural Tracts from the Trump Era,” in The New Conservatism and its Critics. Edited by Joseph Prud’homme Bloomsbury, December 2025.
“Johnathan O’Neill’s Conservative Thought and American Constitutionalism since the New Deal.” Book review for American Political Thought, 13.2, 2024.
“Forced to be Free? America’s “Postliberals” on Freedom and Liberty.” In Far-Right Newspeak and the Future of Liberal Democracy. Edited by Jim McAdams and Sam Piccolo. Routledge, 2024.
“Frederick Douglass’ 1876 Report,” Niskanen Center white paper, January 27, 2022.
“Nietzsche on Death and Dying.” For Political Theory of Death and Dying. Edited by Erin Dolgoy, Kimberly Hale, and Bruce Peabody. Routledge, 2021.
Revisiting Why Liberalism Failed. Commentary for the Niskanen Center. December 2020.
Part 2: Distorted Methods, Disorienting History: Deneen on the Past, Present, and Future
Part 3: Perversity Squared: Deneen’s “Individualist Anthropology” and Anti- Political Denialism, and “Aristopopulist” Delusions
Part 4: Patrick Deneen’s Twin Depletions of Education and Freedom
“Rousseau’s Confessions: A Pattern for Living.” In The Rousseauian Mind. Volume edited by Eve Grace and Christopher Kelly. Routledge, 2019.
“Blind Injustice: Theorizing Anonymity and Accountability in Modern Democracies,” with Richard Boyd. Polity, Vol. 48, Issue 3, July 2016.
“The Philosopher Doth Protest Too Much: Rousseauian Enlightenment and the Rhetoric of Despair.” The Review of Politics, Vol. 75, Issue 3, Spring 2013.
“Xenophon’s Cyropaedia: Educating our Political Hopes.”The Journal of Politics, Vol. 74, Issue 3, July 2012.
Select Public-Facing Publications
● “How Trumpism Betrays the Declaration of Independence,” July 2, 2026, The Bulwark.
● “The Intellectual Edgelords of the GOP,” February 5, 2026, The Atlantic.
● “The Closing of the MAGA Mind,” December 13, 2025, The New York Times.
● “Tensions within the American Right,” July 22, 2025, Le Monde.
● “Trump’s Final Frontier? Emil Bove, the Conservative Legal Movement, and the MAGA New Right,” July 9, 2025, Verfassungsblog.
● “JD Vance Has a Bunch of Weird Views on Gender,” July 24, 2024, Politico.
● “Liberal Morality Needs Liberal Mythology,” February 27, 2024, Hypertext.
● “John Eastman: The Dems Made Me Do It”, August 10, 2023, The Bulwark.
● “John Eastman Sticks to His Story,” July 31, 2023, The Bulwark.
● “Charles Kesler Sees the Light,” August 25, 2022, The Bulwark.
● “The Decay at the Claremont Institute Continues,” April 21, 2022, The Bulwark.
● “Frederick Douglass’ 1876 Report,” January 27, 2022, for The Niskanen Center.
● “As His Big Conspiracy Crumbles, Beattie’s Star Continues to Rise in Trumpworld,” January 18, 2022, The Bulwark.
● “The Limits of Liberal Science.” The Bulwark, November 4, 2021.
● “Ivory Power.” The New Republic, October 26, 2021.
● “The Claremont Institute’s Bogus Censorship Charge.” The Bulwark, October 18, 2021.
● “What the Hell Happened to the Claremont Institute.” The Bulwark, July 23, 2021.
● “The Trouble with the ‘It’s Not Real Fascism’ Argument.” The Bulwark, October 31, 2020.
● “What the Reactionary Right Gets Dead Wrong About Liberal Democracy.” The Bulwark, October 26, 2019.”
Invited Talks and Conference Presentations
● “Author Meets Critics: Laura K. Field’s Furious Minds,” American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting, Boston, September 4, 2026. With Charles Zug, Russ Muirhead, Anne Norton, Kristen Collins, Susan McWilliams Barndt, and Shep Melnick.
● Roundtable: “Discussing Laura Field’s Furious Minds.” With Jean-François Drolet, Jeffrey Liu, Alina Utrata, Matthew Specter, and Henrique Furtado, EISA Pan-European Conference on International Relations (PEC), Lisbon, September 1, 2026.
● “Book Roundtable: Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right,” American Political History Conference, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Washington, DC, June 6, 2026. Moderated by David Austin Walsh, with Hannah Gais, Matt McManus, and Osita Nwanevu.
● “The ‘Paleo-Straussian’ Quagmire,” panel on Paleoconservatism, American Political History Conference, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Washington, DC, June 2026.
● Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, book talks at Dartmouth College (May 27, 2026), École Normale Supérieure, Paris (April 29, 2026), Durham University (April 28, 2026), University of Cambridge (April 27, 2026), UC Davis (April 8, 2026), Pomona College (April 7, 2026), St. Anselm College (March 9, 2026), University of Scranton (March 5, 2026), and Kenyon College Center for the Study of American Democracy (February 4, 2026).
● “Gender and the Fury: The Making of the New Right,” book presentation with respondent Dorit Geva, University of Vienna, May 5, 2026.
● “Political Theologies,” masterclass, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, April 27, 2026.
● “Illiberal Currents and the New Right: Ideological Transformations in the United States and Beyond,” with Marlene Laruelle, Atlantische Commissie (Netherlands Atlantic Association), The Hague, April 21, 2026.
● “MAGA in Context: The Past and Present of the American Right,” panel with Stephanie Slade and Marcus Witcher, moderated by George Hawley, University of Alabama, April 2026.
● “Covering the New Right,” panel with Mark Lilla and Samuel Goldman, Franke Institute for the Humanities / The Point magazine, University of Chicago, April 17, 2026.
● “Author-meets-critics roundtable on Furious Minds,” with Elisabeth Anker, Nicholas Buccola, Alison McQueen, and A.J. Bauer, Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Conference, San Diego, April 2026.
● “Whither the American Republic?” panel with Jamelle Bouie and James Hunter, moderated by Sidney Milkis, Miller Center, University of Virginia, February 23, 2026.
● “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right,” discussion panel with Tom Merrill and Kevin Vallier, Institute for Humane Studies, Washington, DC, December 11, 2025.
● “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right,” in conversation with Richard Wolin, Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, CUNY Graduate Center, December 4, 2025.
● Furious Minds book launch, panel with Patrick Jackson, Sarah Posner, Osita Nwanevu, and Samuel Kimbriel, American University, School of International Service, November 18, 2025.
● Furious Minds book launch panel, panel with Elisabeth Anker, Matthew Dallek, and Timothy Shenk, George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs, November 10, 2025.
● “America Off the Rails? John Ganz’s When the Clock Broke and the Place of the Early 1990s in Recent U.S. History,” American Political History Conference, Vanderbilt University, June 2024.
● Far-Right Newspeak and the Future of Liberal Democracy, Illiberalism Studies Program, May 3, 2024.
● “Did it Happen Here? Perspectives on Fascism in America.” Illiberalism Studies Program, April 17, 2024.
● “Postliberalism In Conversation,” Conversation with Adrian Pabst, moderated by Samuel Goldman. For the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University, March 5, 2024
● “(Re-)Founding for Exclusion: Reactionary Intellectualism, Christian Nationalism, and American Liberal Democracy.” Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and The Pulitzer Center’s. March, 2023.
● “Voices of the Right: Political Conservatism in Academia,” Featured panel, American Political Science Association Conference, Montreal, September 22, 2022.
● “The Promise and Pitfalls of Revising the History of American Conservatism in the Age of Trump.” American Political History conference, Purdue University, June 2022.
● “Liberalism and its Critics,” Institute for Humane Studies, Washington, DC, April 2022.
● “Conspiracy and Democracy: Misinformation, Anti-Liberalism, and Our Constitutional Future.” Discussion with Russell Muirhead at SUNY Geneseo (virtual). October 23, 2020.
● “Liberalism and Its Critics,” Institute for Humane Studies conference. September 19, 2020.
● “Nietzsche on Empathy’s Limits.” EMPATHIES Conference, European Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts. Basel, Switzerland. June, 2017.
● “A Subterranean Tribute: Nietzsche Reads Rousseau.” MPSA, Chicago, 2017.
● “Political Science and Skepticism in Aeschylus’ Oresteia Trilogy.” NPSA, Philadelphia, 2015.
● “Blind Injustice: Anonymity and Accountability in Modern Democracies.” With Richard Boyd, APSA, Washington, DC, 2014.
● “Nietzsche’s Gospel of Fatality.” MPSA. Chicago. 2013.
● “Why Nietzsche Loves his Destiny.” MPSA, Chicago. 2012.
● “Rhetoric of the Faith.” NPSA, Philadelphia, 2011.
● “Nietzsche’s Rhetorical Self.” MPSA, Chicago, 2011.
● “Rousseau's Autobiographical Mask.” MPSA. Chicago, 2010.
● “Nietzsche’s Complex Critique of Pity.” APSA, Toronto, 2009.
● "Judging Modernity's Cultural Icons." MPSA, Chicago, 2009.
● "On the Uses and Abuses of Compassion in Rousseau." SPSA, New Orleans, 2009
● “Xenophon as Novelist: The Limitations of Cyrus and New Possibilities for Political Philosophy.” MPSA, Chicago, 2008.
● "Hobbes' Rhetorical Legacy: 'Scientism' and Political Philosophy." MPSA, Chicago, 2008.
Selected Media Interviews and Podcasts
● In conversation with Francis Fukuyama for his book In the Realm of the Last Man: A Memoir, Politics and Prose, Washington, DC, September 12, 2026.
● Furious Minds discussion, Nighthawk and New Lines Magazine, Chicago, April 18, 2026.
● Furious Minds book talk, Seminary Co-op, University of Chicago, April 16, 2026.
● Zealots at the Gate, “The Psychology of the New Right.” April 8, 2026.
● The Permanent Problem with Brink Lindsey (Niskanen Center), March 19, 2026.
● The Science of Politics with Matt Grossmann (Niskanen Center), “The Intellectual Support for Trumpism,” March 18, 2026.
● Rendezvous with History with Anthony Eames, “The Minds Moving MAGA,” March 11, 2026.
● Panel discussion, Principles First Summit (America 250), Gaylord National Resort, Oxon Hill, MD, February 21, 2026. With Will Sommer, Steven Hassan, Rich Logis, and Maria J. Stephan.
● New Books Network, interview with Lilly Goren, February 12, 2026.
● In Conversation with Frank Schaeffer. February 6, 2026.
● The Realignment with Marshall Kosloff, February 5, 2026.
● The Court of History with Sidney Blumenthal and Sean Wilentz (MeidasTouch Network), two episodes, January–February 2026.
● Big World (American University, School of International Service) with Madison Minges, February 4, 2026.
● Behind the News with Doug Henwood, January 29, 2026.
● Wisdom of Crowds with Christine Emba and Samuel Kimbriel, “What the New Right Actually Believes,” January 27, 2026.
● Give Them An Argument with Ben Burgis and Matthew McManus, January 16, 2026.
● The Political Theory Review with Jeffrey Church, January 12, 2026.
● Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, book talk, Busboys and Poets (with the Columbia DC Alumni Club), January 6, 2026.
● The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan, “Laura Field on Trump’s Intellectuals,” January 2, 2026.
● “The Making of the MAGA New Right,” Lawfare Lecture Series, December 2025 - January 2026
● The Mona Charen Show (The Bulwark), “MAGA Intellectuals Under the Microscope,” December 29, 2025.
● The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg (The Dispatch), “Intellectuals of the New Right,” December 29, 2025.
● American Campus Podcast with Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, “Claremonsters and MAGA Intellectuals,” December 28, 2025.
● Frankly Fukuyama with Francis Fukuyama (Persuasion), December 4, 2025.
● Have You Heard with Jennifer Berkshire, “Make Education Great Again,” December 4, 2025.
● Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast. November 29, 2025.
● Know Your Enemy with Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, November 24, 2025.
● The David Pakman Show, November 18, 2025.
● Furious Minds book talk, Busboys and Poets, Washington, DC, November 16, 2025.
● Neon Liberalism / Liberal Currents with Samantha Hancox-Li, November 16, 2025.
● Hotel Bar Sessions with Leigh Johnson, Jennifer Kling, and Bob Vallier, November 14, 2025.
● Unpopular Front, “Talking to Laura K. Field about MAGA ‘Ideas’,” with John Ganz, November 13, 2025.
● American Freakshow with Nina Burleigh. November 6, 2025.
● Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, 92nd Street Y (92NY), New York, November 3, 2025 (pre-recorded online event).
● Straight White American Jesus with Brad Onishi, November 3, 2025.
● The Great Battlefield with Nathaniel Pearlman, November 3, 2025.
● We Made This Political with Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum. November 3, 2025.
● Keen On America with Andrew Keen, “How Smart Is the MAGA Intelligentsia?” October 26, 2025.
● “What Exactly is the New Right?” Gray Area with Zack Beauchamp, August 18, 2025.
● “The Philosophical Roots of Illiberal Movements,” Liberalism for the 21st Century Conference, August 2025.
● “Trump’s MAGA Movement is Ushering in “The New Right””, Offline with Jon Favreau, August 4, 2024.
● “The Roots of Reactionary Conservatism,” The Vital Center podcast, August 4, 2021.
● “What the Hell Happened to the Claremont Institute,” The Bulwark podcast, July 23, 2021.
● “Conspiracism finds a home on the intellectual right,” The Democracy Works, May 10, 2021.
● “On Rousseau’s “Confessions”: A Life in the Camera Obscura,” PODOPTICON. March 3, 2021.
● “Conservative Thought After Trump,” Model Citizen podcast. November 20th, 2020.
Professional Service
Director: Olson Scholars Program, School of International Service, American University
Referee for: Comparative Political Theory, American Political Science Review, Review of Politics, Rhetorica, Canadian Journal of Political Science.
Member: American Political Science Association, Midwest Political Science Association, Hannah Arendt Center.
Panel organizer: Midwest Political Science Association 2013, 2009; Southwestern Political Science Association 2008.
“Rousseau at 300” Symposium, Rhodes College, 2013; Midwest Political Science Association 2012, 2008.
Mentorship: SIS Freshman Mentorship Program, American University. 2014 and 2015, Pre-Graduate School Internship Experience, University of Texas. 2011, 2007.
Courses Taught
International Relations Theory. American University.
Perspectives on Ethics and Power. American University.
Social Science Theory – Olson Scholars Research Seminar. American University.
Perspectives on Nature and the Environment. American University, Georgetown University, and Rhodes College.
Democracy, Demagogues, and Dialectics (previously The Classical Quest for Justice). American University and Georgetown University.
Critique of Social Science (Undergraduate and Graduate). Georgetown University.
Political Theory Seminar for Honors Government Majors. Georgetown University.
Rousseau, Nietzsche, and the Politics of Cultural Change. Georgetown University.
Political Questions. Rhodes College.
Search 101 – Antiquity. Rhodes College.
Search 102 – Roman, Christian, and Islamic Thought. Rhodes College.
Ancient Philosophy and Literature. University of Texas.
Fellowships and Honors
Discourse Initiative Research Grant, Institute for Humane Studies. 2022.
Free Speech and Open Inquiry Grant. Institute of Humane Studies. 2020.
Hayek Fund for Scholars Award. Institute of Humane Studies. 2020.
University Continuing Fellowship. University of Texas. 2010.
Thomas Jefferson Fellowship. University of Texas. 2009.
Malcolm Macdonald Dissertation Fellowship. University of Texas. 2009.
Donors Trust Foundation Award. University of Texas. 2008.
David Bruton, Jr. Fellowship. University of Texas. 2008.
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (3 years). Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada. 2006.
Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship. University of Alberta. 2003.
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s. Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). 2003.
Duncan Alexander MacGibbon Medal in Political Science. University of Alberta. 2003Free Speech and Open Inquiry Grant. Institute of Humane Studies. 2020.
Languages
French: Near-native reading ability, high fluency.
German: Intermediate reading ability, fluency.
Greek: Beginners reading ability.
Spanish: High reading ability, intermediate fluency.