Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Wendy Lisa Brown |
| Date of Birth | November 28, 1955 |
| Education | BA in Economics & Politics, UC Santa Cruz; MA & PhD in Political Philosophy, Princeton University |
| Current Position | UPS Foundation Professor, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton |
| Previous Appointment | Class of 1936 First Professor of Political Science, UC Berkeley |
| Fields of Expertise | Political Theory, Critical Theory, Neoliberalism, Democracy |
| Notable Works | Undoing the Demos; Walled States, Waning Sovereignty; States of Injury |
Early Life and Education
Born on November 28, 1955, Wendy Brown grew up in Southern California, developing an early interest in the intersection of economics and politics. She enrolled at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Politics in 1977. Brown then pursued graduate studies at Princeton University, earning her Master of Arts in 1980 and her Ph.D. in Political Philosophy in 1984. Her dissertation explored the limits of liberal democratic theory, setting the stage for her lifelong critique of political paradigms.
Academic Career and Appointments
Brown began her teaching career at Williams College before returning to UC Santa Cruz as a faculty member in political theory. In 1999, she accepted the Class of 1936 First Professorship in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where she joined the core faculty of the Critical Theory Program. There, she taught courses on modern political thought, the history of political philosophy, and the politics of identity. In 2021, Brown relocated to Princeton, New Jersey, to become the UPS Foundation Professor in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study, where she continues to mentor doctoral candidates and collaborate with interdisciplinary scholars.
Major Works and Theoretical Contributions
Wendy Brown’s scholarship is defined by incisive critiques of neoliberalism, sovereignty, and the modern subject. Her landmark publications include:
| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | States of Injury: Power and Freedom in Late Modernity | Analyzes how contemporary political rhetoric frames individuals as victims and the implications for freedom. |
| 2010 | Walled States, Waning Sovereignty | Examines how physical and ideological walls shape national sovereignty in a globalized world. |
| 2015 | Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s Stealth Revolution | Argues that neoliberal rationality transforms citizens into market actors, eroding democratic values. |
Through these works, Brown has reshaped debates on how market logic infiltrates public institutions, the reconfiguration of citizenship, and the crisis of democratic representation. Her theoretical interventions draw on Foucault’s analytics of power, Nietzsche’s genealogical method, and Marx’s critique of political economy.
Awards and Honors
Over her career, Wendy Brown has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing both her scholarship and teaching:
- David Eastman Award (2012) for Walled States, Waning Sovereignty
- Spitz Prize (2017) for Undoing the Demos, awarded to the best book in liberal and democratic theory
- Guggenheim Fellowship (2017–2018), supporting her research on political subjectivity
- Distinguished Teaching Award (2016), UC Berkeley
- Berkeley Citation (2021), UC Berkeley’s highest honor for outstanding contributions to the university
- Honorary Doctorate (2025), Södertörn University, for contributions to social and political thought
Public Engagement and Influence
Beyond academia, Brown’s analyses have shaped public discourse in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. She regularly delivers keynote lectures at international conferences on democracy and neoliberalism. While she does not maintain a personal social media profile, her interviews and debates are widely shared online by academic institutions and think tanks.
Her work has influenced policymakers and activists alike, offering frameworks to understand phenomena such as the privatization of public services, the rise of boundary walls, and the transformation of citizenship into economic performance metrics.
Recent News & Ongoing Projects
In 2025, Södertörn University conferred upon Brown an honorary doctorate, praising her scholarship as an “invaluable resource for understanding contemporary political challenges.” Currently, she is developing a new monograph on the politics of algorithmic governance and its implications for democratic accountability. In addition, she is co-editing a volume on feminist critiques of neoliberal subjectivity, set to be published in 2026.
Brown remains active in mentoring early-career scholars and participates in seminars at the Institute for Advanced Study, where she explores interdisciplinary collaborations with economists, sociologists, and data scientists.
FAQ
Who is Wendy Brown?
Wendy Brown is an American political theorist known for her critical analyses of neoliberalism, democracy, and sovereignty, currently serving as UPS Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study.
What are her most influential books?
Her most influential works include States of Injury, Walled States, Waning Sovereignty, and Undoing the Demos, each reshaping debates in political theory.
What awards has she received?
She has earned the David Eastman Award, the Spitz Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, UC Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and an honorary doctorate from Södertörn University.
Does Wendy Brown use social media?
No, Brown does not maintain personal social media accounts, preferring scholarly publications and public lectures to engage with audiences.
What is her current research focus?
Her current projects examine algorithmic governance, democratic accountability, and feminist critiques of neoliberal subjectivity.
Who is Lesly Brown Sajak?
Lesly Brown Sajak is best known as the wife of Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak and has pursued careers in photography and law.
