Paul Schumaker

Early in my career, my teaching and research interests focused on empirical theory, and my publications provided quantitative assessments of the conditions under which American cities performed well (and poorly) in terms of achieving various democratic goals. Overtime, my interests turned toward more normative issues, as did my teaching role. Currently I am responsible for teaching POLS301, Introduction to Political Theory, which is required of all majors. It focuses on the great or “perennial” issues of politics: people’s identities with various political communities; the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; how communities should be structured; the distribution of power within communities; the autonomy of individuals and the authority of governments; the just distribution of benefits and burdens; and the means of bringing about political change. Also addressed are the philosophical foundations that influence people’s receptivity to alternative principles on these big