Nick Noloboff
PhD Candidate in Political Science
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & International Relations
Qualifications
M.A. Political Science, Indiana University
M.A. Political Science, University of New Hampshire
B.A. Psychology, Wheaton College
Profile
My research looks at the theme of political education in 18th and 19th century political theory as a frame for understanding Max Weber’s controversial “plebiscitary leader democracy,” and for theorizing about politics today. Weber is arguably the dominant social theorist of the 20th century, and while his contributions to theories of elite politics are well known, his view of democratic citizenship and political education is less so. In many respects Weber’s notion of democracy challenges orthodox liberal conceptions of freedom, self-determination, pluralism, etc. because it is based on his grand theory of rationalisation instead of the political foundations favoured by earlier thinkers. As the effects of rationalisation (i.e. bureaucratization, scientific explanation) sink ever deeper into citizens’ lives, I wonder about their effects on our knowledge and judgment of politics. My research investigates how Weber and his predecessors thought about—and how we should think about—the political education of citizens. Should we expect citizens to understand issues and direct policy, or are we mainly taking our cues from leaders? If responsible leadership is the best we can expect, how can voters tell which leaders are competent and sincere? What kind of education supports citizenship when human factors are overwhelmed by the calculation of all lived experience, and where is this education found? These are some of the questions my research takes up.
Supervisors
Associate Dean, Academic Programmes
Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Associate Professor
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations