
Dr. Adam Kunz
Contact Information
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Department of Political Science
105 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702-4004
Biography
Adam Kunz joined our department in Fall 2021. His scholarly interests are in contemporary political theory, existential threats to human flourishing, the limits of freedom of religion, and jurisprudence. He teaches courses on political theory and constitutional law. A theme of his courses is translating rigorous theoretical knowledge into practical applications that foster solidarity among citizens, temper exceptionalism, and promote a more egalitarian society. Dr. Kunz also serves as an expert witness in cases dealing with religious manipulation. As Christopher Hitchens eloquently put it, combating “the fear of freedom, the wish to be slaves, the wish to be told what to do” sums up Dr. Kunz's lifelong research interests and professional pursuits.
Before coming to UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Kunz completed his Ph.D. (2019) at the University of California, Davis. His dissertation explored one aspect of citizenship theory, specifically investigating the concept of civic friendship and its role in fostering solidarity among diverse citizens. He also attended law school at The George Washington University Law School (2012). He then practiced commercial litigation in Washington, DC, at Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP (now Faegre Drinker). Among his cases, Dr. Kunz represented the Native American students who challenged the racist name of the Washington, D.C., pro football team.
Education
- Ph.D., University of California, Davis (Political Science), 2019
- M.A., University of California, Davis (Political Science), 2018
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2012
Teaching and Research Interests
- Contemporary political theory
- Justice, tolerance, and civil discourse
- Debates within and against liberalism
- The limits of religious freedom, cults, and religious manipulation
Published Research
- “Tolerating the Violent: The Liberal Egalitarian Justifications for the Brandenburg Test,” Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century (New York: State University of New York Press, 2025): 27-46.
- To Hell with Heaven: An Introduction to Apatheism (United Kingdom: Hypatia Press, 2024).
- "The Kingdom of Friends: Reconstructing Fraternity in Kantian Liberalism," Philosophia 50, no. 3 (2022): 1223-1241.
- “Public Exposure: Of Burqas, Secularism, & France’s Violation of European Law,” The George Washington International Law Review 44, no. 1 (2012): 79-105.
Honors And Recognition
- Co-principal investigator for "Representing the Countryside: Measuring Policymaking Responsiveness to Rural Identity” as part of the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership grant | 2025-2026
- Recipient of the UWEC Celebration of Scholarship for new book To Hell with Heaven | Fall 2024
- Recipient of two grants from the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship & Civil Dialogue for Bridge UWEC and the Association of Student Humanists | 2024-2025
- Recipient of the Bret Hewitt Distinguished Qualifying Exam Award in the Department of Political Science, University of California, Davis | 2018
- Recipient of the Russell J. & Dorothy S. Bilinski Educational Foundation Dissertation Writing Fellowship | 2018-2019
- Recipient of the Charles Hardin Award in the Department of Political Science, University of California, Davis | 2018, 2017