Hegel and Marxist Republicanism

Project Title

Hegel and Marxist Republicanism

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

My project analyzes the textual evidence for the recent trend in republican interpretations of Marx. I suggest that Marx’s theoretical conception of the state is not fundamentally republican and is instead concerned with the Hegelian question of how to reconcile the universal and the particular. Marx’s adoption of a paradigmatically republican vocabulary should be understood, then, as merely a means to that end. His endorsement, therefore, of apparently contradictory political prescriptions only seems as such in the absence of an accurate conception of the principal concern from which his thought arises. Moreover, my project problematizes the absence of Hegel in republican interpretations of Marx and reasserts the former’s theoretical centrality to the latter. In doing so, I demonstrate that direct democratic rule entrenches workers in a system of political organization contrary to their own interests.

Why is your research important?

I think contemporary academic political research has an increasing tendency toward a “flatness” politics—that is, a bottom-up approach that derides any form of hierarchy. But it seems to me there is a strong limit to that approach: capital interests shape the working class’s consciousness such that bottom-up politics often reproduce an electoral body acting against workers’ own interests. My research emphasizes the need to prioritize a top-down approach to political organization as a response to large capital interests’ distortionary measures.

What does the process of doing your research look like? 

My process is more about what my daily schedule looks like: I get to my desk, drink more coffee than I perhaps should, and then I start reading. I like to break down an author's argument into parts and analyze whether each claim is genuinely supported by the evidence or if the evidence only tangentially supports their claims. To that end, I focus on the gap between what the author says the evidence shows and what the original source of that evidence actually intended.

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

No one else has attributed the same importance I do to Marx’s Critique of Hegel’s “Philosophy of Right” in conversation with the literature on Marx’s republican tendencies. One author—Bruno Leipold—has come close. However, while he managed to make some breakthroughs in interpreting the text, the broader thrust of his argument relies on ignoring the central animating argument of the text—to which I attribute a great deal of importance.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I presented at the Oberlin College Summer Research Symposium. I was thrilled for this opportunity to present to an interdisciplinary audience, but I am also hoping to continue exploring this subject.

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

Well, I would really have to go to graduate school to study political theory. I knew securing research as an undergraduate would be incredibly important toward that end. I was fortunate enough to find a professor in my first semester here who aligned with my own interests, and we worked together to find a topic in political theory that we both felt was important.

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

Every single day, all day, I am reading what I think are some of the greatest thinkers of our generation. That is such a privilege for me. To pursue what I am passionate about every day is something that I thought I could only dream of.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

When I meet with my mentor, she always offers brilliant suggestions. But rather than simply telling me what to do, she highlights gaps in my writing and encourages me to think through them on my own. This not only strengthens my research but also sharpens my ability to critically engage with my own work. She has deepened my critical thinking in ways I cannot even begin to articulate.

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?  

I hope to attend graduate school and eventually become a professor of political theory. The Oberlin Summer Research Institute offers me the opportunity to begin preparing for research at that level.

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

Just reach out—honestly. Meet with professors whose research interests you, or even those you simply find personally interesting. Getting a sense of what different faculty members are working on helped me figure out who I wanted to work with, and I find the professors at Oberlin are incredibly welcoming and open to mentoring students.