Dr. Michelle Mawhinney received a PhD from York University in 2007. She held a CLA position at York’s Department of Politics from 2011-2014, and then an LSTA from 2016-2020, when she joined the Politics faculty as a Sessional Assistant Professor (SRC). Michelle’s teaching and research has been in the field of Political Theory, primarily in the areas of modern political thought, post-Enlightenment political thought, and more specifically the writings of Kant, Hegel and Marx. Other areas of teaching experience and expertise include the critical theory of the Frankfurt School, gender and diversity, ecology and political theory, the political culture of race and racism, feminist theory, indigenous-settler relations and post-colonial theory. In addition, she designs and teaches courses on contemporary political philosophy (Rawls and his critics, postmodernism and post-structuralism, critical race theory), as well as more applied courses on women and politics, media and citizenship, and public policy. Current research interests include the historical construction of nature in post-Enlightenment Western thought and cultural practice, contemporary politics of identity and difference, the connections between ecology and social justice issues, ecology and the “new materialisms,” and the intersections of race, gender and class in late capitalist societies.

Research Interests

Current Courses

Term	Course Number	Section	Title	Type
Fall/Winter 2024	GS/POLS6010 6.0	A	Symposium In Political Theory	SEMR

Upcoming Courses

Term	Course Number	Section	Title	Type
Winter 2025	AP/POLS4060 3.0	M	Slavery and Freedom	SEMR
Fall/Winter 2024	GS/POLS6010 6.0	A	Symposium In Political Theory	SEMR

Dr. Michelle Mawhinney received a PhD from York University in 2007. She held a CLA position at York’s Department of Politics from 2011-2014, and then an LSTA from 2016-2020, when she joined the Politics faculty as a Sessional Assistant Professor (SRC). Michelle’s teaching and research has been in the field of Political Theory, primarily in the areas of modern political thought, post-Enlightenment political thought, and more specifically the writings of Kant, Hegel and Marx. Other areas of teaching experience and expertise include the critical theory of the Frankfurt School, gender and diversity, ecology and political theory, the political culture of race and racism, feminist theory, indigenous-settler relations and post-colonial theory. In addition, she designs and teaches courses on contemporary political philosophy (Rawls and his critics, postmodernism and post-structuralism, critical race theory), as well as more applied courses on women and politics, media and citizenship, and public policy. Current research interests include the historical construction of nature in post-Enlightenment Western thought and cultural practice, contemporary politics of identity and difference, the connections between ecology and social justice issues, ecology and the “new materialisms,” and the intersections of race, gender and class in late capitalist societies.

Degrees

PhD Political Science, York University
MA Political Science, York University
BA Political Science, York University

Research Interests

Current Courses

Term	Course Number	Section	Title	Type
Fall/Winter 2024	GS/POLS6010 6.0	A	Symposium In Political Theory	SEMR

Upcoming Courses

Term	Course Number	Section	Title	Type
Winter 2025	AP/POLS4060 3.0	M	Slavery and Freedom	SEMR
Fall/Winter 2024	GS/POLS6010 6.0	A	Symposium In Political Theory	SEMR