Professor Richard Bourke FBA

Elected 2018

Fellow type: UK Fellow
Year elected: 2018
Sections: Early Modern History to 1850, Political Studies: Political Theory, Government and International Relations
Website: https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/directory/professor-richard-bourke

Richard Bourke’s work focuses on the history of political thought, particularly on the political ideas of the enlightenment, but he also has interests in ancient philosophy, and in political theory in the 19th and 20th centuries. He has written, in addition, on Irish history, above all on the Troubles. He has also published on various issues in contemporary political thought, ranging from nationalism and conservatism to political judgment and popular sovereignty. He has worked on the philosophy of history since Kant, and on the history of democracy.

Current post

University of Cambridge Professor of the History of Political Thought

King's College, Cambridge Fellow

Past appointments

Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut, Freie Universität Berlin Visiting Fellow

2018 -

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellow

2014 - 2015

Queen Mary University of London Professor in the History of Political Thought

2012 - 2018

Queen Mary University of London Reader

2010 - 2012

Historicum, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München Visiting Fellow

2006 - 2007

Queen Mary University of London Senior Lecturer

2005 - 2010

Queen Mary University of London Lecturer

2004 - 2005

Queen Mary University of London Lecturer

1993 - 1994

University College Dublin Lecturer

1990 - 1993

Top picks

Burke was no conservative

Article

Richard Bourke explains how Edmund Burke’s support for the American Revolution, and opposition to the French, have been misunderstood.

The concept of sovereignty

Video

Richard Bourke on political community, history of political philosophy, and the modern struggle over the location of sovereignty.

Publications

Hegel’s World Revolutions

Richard Bourke - Published in 2023 by Princeton University Press

History in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Edited by Richard Bourke and Quentin Skinner - Published in 2022 by Cambridge University Press

The Political Thought of the Irish Revolution

Edited by Richard Bourke and Niamh Gallagher - Published in 2022 by Cambridge University Press

The Princeton History of Modern Ireland

Edited by Richard Bourke and Ian McBride - Published in 2016 by Princeton University Press

Popular Sovereignty in Historical Perspective

Edited by Richard Bourke and Quentin Skinner - Published in 2016 by Cambridge University Press

Empire and Revolution: The Political Life of Edmund Burke

Richard Bourke - Published in 2015 by Princeton University Press

Political Judgement: Essays for John Dunn

Edited by Richard Bourke and Raymond Geuss - Published in 2009 by Cambridge University Press

Peace in Ireland: The War of Ideas

Richard Bourke - Published in 2003 by Random House

Second edition with updated preface; 2012

Other Fellows of the British Academy

Professor Robert J. Mayhew FBA

The interface of historical geography and intellectual history, in particular the intellectual history of British geography books, demography and migration, c 1660-1900

Professor Dr Rainer Forst FBA

Moral philosophy (especially Kantian theories, constructivism); political theory (especially theories of justice, democracy, toleration and power); critical theory of society (especially theories of critique)

Professor Tim Brook FBA

China’s social, cultural, and international history from the 13th to the 17th century; global history of the 16th and 17th centuries; Asian conflict and human rights in the 20th century

Professor Richard Bourke FBA

Current post

University of Cambridge Professor of the History of Political Thought

King's College, Cambridge Fellow

Past appointments

Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut, Freie Universität Berlin Visiting Fellow

2018 -

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellow

2014 - 2015

Queen Mary University of London Professor in the History of Political Thought

2012 - 2018

Queen Mary University of London Reader

2010 - 2012

Historicum, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München Visiting Fellow

2006 - 2007

Queen Mary University of London Senior Lecturer

2005 - 2010

Queen Mary University of London Lecturer

2004 - 2005

Queen Mary University of London Lecturer

1993 - 1994

University College Dublin Lecturer

1990 - 1993

Top picks

Burke was no conservative

The concept of sovereignty

Publications

Hegel’s World Revolutions

Richard Bourke - Published in 2023 by Princeton University Press

History in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Edited by Richard Bourke and Quentin Skinner - Published in 2022 by Cambridge University Press

The Political Thought of the Irish Revolution

Edited by Richard Bourke and Niamh Gallagher - Published in 2022 by Cambridge University Press

The Princeton History of Modern Ireland

Edited by Richard Bourke and Ian McBride - Published in 2016 by Princeton University Press

Popular Sovereignty in Historical Perspective

Edited by Richard Bourke and Quentin Skinner - Published in 2016 by Cambridge University Press

Empire and Revolution: The Political Life of Edmund Burke

Richard Bourke - Published in 2015 by Princeton University Press

Political Judgement: Essays for John Dunn

Edited by Richard Bourke and Raymond Geuss - Published in 2009 by Cambridge University Press

Peace in Ireland: The War of Ideas

Richard Bourke - Published in 2003 by Random House

Other Fellows of the British Academy

Professor Robert J. Mayhew FBA

Professor Dr Rainer Forst FBA

Professor Tim Brook FBA

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