Dr. Elizabeth Hurd

Biography

Elizabeth Shakman Hurd is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Religious Studies program at Northwestern University. Her academic work focuses on the intersection of religion and politics, specifically examining U.S. foreign and immigration policy, secularism, and religious freedom within the context of global politics. As co-director of the Global Religion & Politics Research Group, she contributes to the understanding of religious dynamics in international relations. Hurd teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on topics such as American borders, religion and race, and political diversity. She advises graduate students on international political theory and political ethnography. Hurd's significant publications include 'Heaven's Wall: Religion, Borders, and the Global United States' and works on critical theory and international relations. Her research encompasses the politics of religion in contexts such as the Middle East and Europe, with a focus on the application of critical theory to contemporary political issues. She is actively engaged in public scholarship, contributing to discussions on religious freedom and politics in various media outlets, advocating for the importance of understanding the role of religion in societal issues.

Research Interests