Sheldon Wolin

Sheldon Sanford Wolin (August 4, 1922 – October 21, 2015) was an American political theorist and writer on contemporary politics. For fifty years, Wolin was a prominent figure in political theory, serving as Professor of Politics, Emeritus, at Princeton University. His academic career also included teaching positions at numerous other universities. Wolin was a significant mentor to many students who became prominent scholars. He received his doctorate from Harvard University and was instrumental in founding the Berkeley School of political theory. His work, particularly 'Politics and Vision', offered an interpretive approach to the history of political thought, connecting it to contemporary political dilemmas. Wolin was also involved in the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley and was the founding editor of the journal 'democracy'. His later work, including 'Tocqueville Between Two Worlds' and 'Democracy Incorporated', provided critiques of modern political systems and advocated for the recovery of democratic values. His ideas on 'inverted totalitarianism' and 'fugitive democracy' are significant contributions to political thought. Wolin also served in the US Army Air Forces during World War II.