John-Harmen Valk is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Study of Religion.

More information about John-Harmen Valk

Research

John-Harmen Valk’s research interests lie at the intersection of international relations, political theory, continental philosophy and the philosophy of religion. He is interested in how understandings of the international as a realm of political activity flow from particular characterizations of religion. Recently, he has been exploring these issues as a theologico-political problematic, that is, through the lens of political theology. Otherwise stated, he has been investigating how contemporary understandings of the international are historically mediated by motifs and ways of being drawn from religious traditions as well as how contemporary understandings rest upon assumptions that are ontological and metaphysical in nature. He is particularly interested in examining how attention to human embodiment, most specifically to human desire, can shed light on the nature of the theologico-political problematic at the international level. So too is he particularly interested in considering how exemplary figures and socio-political practices constitute human desire and, by extension, understandings of the international. His published work on these themes dialogues with the writings of the following figures, among others: Paul Ricoeur, Charles Taylor, Talal Asad, Max Weber, Hans Blumenberg, Immanuel Kant, Hans Morgenthau.

Dr. Valk welcomes inquiries from prospective PhD students on themes directly or indirectly related to any of the above-mentioned themes.

Curriculum vitae

Ph.D. University of St Andrews
M.A. Carleton University
M.W.S. Institute for Christian Studies
B.A. Calvin College

Publications

“Desire and the Political Theology of the International.” In The Palgrave Handbook of International Political Theory, edited by Howard Williams, David Boucher, David Reidy, Peter Sutch and Alexandros Koutsoukis. Palgrave Macmillan. Forthcoming.

For a list of previous publications, as well as digital copies of those older than six months, click on the “Publications” tab above.

Publications