Meet our Newest Graduate: Zachary Pfeifer!

Meet Our Newest Graduate!

Zachary Pfeifer’s MA thesis was entitled “Ideas of Europe: The European Political Community in the Thought of Buffon and Montesquieu”. It was written under the supervision of Dr. Josh Goldstein.

 

Tell us a bit about your thesis! What was it about and what were its main arguments?

My thesis explored two eighteenth-century attempts to make sense of, and give meaning to, the idea of ‘Europe’ and what it meant to be European at this time. I looked at the political theory of two French theorists, Buffon and Montesquieu, interpreting them as each articulating an idea of Europe as a political community distinct from all other political communities. This interpretation was grounded in a concern with how understandings of identity shape political projects and ideas of the ‘others’. My thesis’ central argument was that both models of understanding ‘Europe’ attempted to articulate ideas of universal human flourishing belonging to the particular conditions, values, and practices of the European political community and that this association generated tensions between the universalistic idea of Europe and Europe’s particular place in the world.

Any favourite memories from your research or at UCalgary Political Science you’d like to share?

As a student of the pandemic, my favourite memories during my time as an MA involved returning to campus in my last year and resuming all the normal aspects of student life that this made possible. From the afternoon library writing sessions with a small but dedicated group of my fellow MAs, to the in-person tutorials with students and other TAs, to getting coffee with my supervisor, I look back on these things fondly.

Where has your degree taken you now?

My degree has brought me to York University in Toronto, where I am pursuing a PhD in Political Science. Here, I am continuing my research of early modern European identity and how these identities shaped the projects of colonialism during this time. I am very happy to be continuing my studies in the history of political thought and very grateful to all the people whose help and friendship during my MA made this next step possible.

Congratulations Zachary Pfeifer on your degree!

 

To find out more about our current and past graduate students, please visit the UCalgary Political Science website.