Laurie M. Johnson is professor of political science at Kansas State University and president of The Maurin Academy (https://pmaurin.org). Most of her work has involved developing an understanding and critique of classical liberal theory and includes works on Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Tocqueville. Her recent book, Ideological Possession and the Rise of the New Right (2019), sets the stage for her newest book, The Gap in God’s Country (Cascade, 2024), with broader implications for what we can do to address our problems.

PODCAST LINKS:

- The Gap in God’s Country (book): https://wipfandstock.com/9781666737400/the-gap-in-gods-country/

- YouTube series on the book: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsLkfggTCOx-GdsauHvp0dmqOKq8f4jsB

- Laurie’s website: https://lauriemjohnson.com/

- Maurin Academy: https://pmaurin.org/

- Maurin Academy Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maurinacademy

- Political Philosophy podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ljpolitical-philosophy

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OUTLINE:

(02:49 ) – Meet Laurie

(05:08 ) – Roundtable: Jesus, Socrates, Karl Marx

(07:12 ) – Laurie’s political journey

(16:00 ) – Classical conservatism

(20:25 ) – US conservatives: right-leaning liberals?   

(27:23 ) – Political instability today

(29:36 ) – Marxian critiques of capitalism

(34:58 ) – Transformations in the Democratic Party

(35:43 ) – Jacques Ellul and “technique” today

(44:14 ) – The Catholic Worker movement  

(50:17 ) – Mass psychosis/ideological possession

(01:00:23 ) – Direct action

*The Theology Mill and Wipf and Stock Publishers would like to thank Luca Di Alessandro for making their song “A Celestial Keyboard” available for use as the podcast’s transition music. Link to license: https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/.