Dr. Richard Bourke

Biography

Richard Bourke is a Professor of History and Faculty Director at the University of Cambridge, specializing in political thought. He completed his BA in Classics at Birkbeck College, University of London, followed by a PhD at the University of Cambridge. Bourke has held various academic positions, including at Dublin and Queen Mary University of London where he became Professor of History in 2012. He was elected Chair of History of Political Thought at Cambridge in 2018 and in 2022 received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from University College Dublin. His research has received significant funding, including from the Humboldt Stiftung and DAAD, and he has been a Fellow at several prestigious institutions in Europe and the United States. Bourke’s scholarly work centers on the history of political thought, particularly the political ideas stemming from the Enlightenment and their aftermath. He has also contributed to discussions on contemporary political thought, nationalism, and political judgment, and is currently investigating the philosophy of history of Kant and the history of democracy. He actively participates in academic publishing, serving on multiple editorial boards and co-editing publications related to political thought.

Research Interests

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