University of Wisconsin–Madison

Year: 2025

Join us 2/4 at 6pm to hear Christopher Scalia address “How Conservatives Can Engage with Culture”

New CSLD-sponsored classes for Spring 2026: Foundations of Liberal Democracy & Catholic Legal Thought

The CSLD is pleased to announce two new classes for the Spring 2026 semester, open to both undergraduates and law students, offered in cooperation with the Department of Legal Studies and the UW Law School. Law 940-011/Legal Studies 600-006 Foundations of Liberal Democracy is a three-credit course open to both undergraduate and law students (P/F …

Prof. Daniel Mark (Villanova) discusses his new book, The Nature of Law

Join us on Thursday, October 23rd at noon in Room 7200 of the UW Law School for a book talk by Daniel Mark (Villanova), who will discuss the connection between legal duties and moral obligations.Lunch provided. Co-sponsored by the Tommy G. Thompson Center for public leadership.

The CSLD is Hiring an Assistant Director!

The Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy invites applications for a part-time position as Assistant Director. In cooperation with the Director, the Assistant Director is responsible for day-to-day operations of the CSLD including programming, development, strategic planning, intra-University relations, relations with Wisconsin State legislators, and relations with the national community of scholars, institutes, and …

“Augustinian Political Thought” Reading Group Begins 9/16:

Newly-elected American Pope Leo XIV is an American member of the international Augustinian religious order. Who was St. Augustine? How did he–and how do those still influenced by his thought–understand the role and power of the State? Join us for an exploration of St. Augustine of Hippo and his far-reaching impact on Western social and …

Book Talk, 9/22 @ 12 p.m., Adam Szetela’s “That Book is Dangerous: How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing”

Join author Adam Szetela for a talk on his newly-released exposé of censorship in the publishing industry. In That Book Is Dangerous, Szetela investigates how well-intended efforts to diversify American literature have also produced serious problems for literary freedom. Drawing from interviews with presidents and vice presidents at the Big Five publishers, literary agents at …

CSLD Featured in the Gargoyle

The spring issue of the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Gargoyle magazine features an article on the CSLD. Check it out here.

CSLD Graduate Fellow Phillip Pinell to Teach @ FSU’s Institute for Governance & Civics

CSLD Graduate Fellow Phillip Pinell has accepted a position as a teaching faculty member at the Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics. Pinell is earning his Ph.D. in political theory and American politics and will soon be defending his dissertation, “The Idea of the Nation in Twentieth-Century Spanish Political Thought.” He will be …

2025-26 CSPT Fellowship Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for 2025-26 Catholic Social & Political Thought Fellowships. All UW-Madison students (from rising freshman to graduate students, from any religious or non-religious tradition) are invited to apply. Offers will be made on a rolling basis through early fall. For more information and to apply, see here.

April 3rd Book Talk: Ilya Shapiro, Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites

Join the CSLD and the Federalist Society for a book talk by Ilya Shapiro of the Manhattan Institute on April 3rd from 12-1 in Room 5240 of the University of Wisconsin Law School (975 Bascom Mall, Madison). Lunch will be served and book copies will be available for purchase.