Jacob Williams

I am currently researching the 'postliberal' movement and its critique of liberalism both as a theory and as a 'regime', with a view to systematising and evaluating the merits of the various postliberal claims.

This involves engaging with claims about the ontology and anthropology of liberalism, and about the 'coercive liberalism' of contemporary liberal regimes, which for some is covertly based on a comprehensive conception of the good that valorises radical autonomy and self-creation. My research addresses the epistemic demands and practical burdens that a liberal regime may justly place on 'traditionalist' citizens. I am deeply interested in both liberal and conservative political thought as well the ways that (overt or covert) 'religious' ideals might intrude on these traditions of thought.

I am a co-convenor of the Oxford Conservative Thought Reading Group, and I have co-organised and co-taught a seminar series on Islam and justice in religiously plural societies.

Outside academia, I am the Head of Domestic Policy at the think tank Pickthall House, for which I have made several media appearances. I also run a private tuition business and have published journalistic writing on a variety of political and social topics.

Research

My research focuses on the following main areas:

• The 'postliberal' movement as an ideology and as an intervention in political theory

• Political liberalism, public reason, and disagreement about the good and the right

• The role of religion in politics, religiously-inspired political thought in the Christian and Islamic traditions, and the role of comprehensive conceptions of the good in political thought generally

• Conservative political thought, including Burkean and natural law traditions, their role in contemporary politics, and their compatibility (or otherwise) with political liberalism

• The 'postliberal' movement as an ideology and as an intervention in political theory

• The non-ideal theory of public reason under conditions of cultural conflict, including its relationship to freedom of speech, viewpoint diversity, and unreasonable forms of comprehensive liberalism

Languages

I am fluent in English (native) and have an intermediate working knowledge of classical and modern standard Arabic.

Awards

During my previous study (an MA in Religion at King's College London) my work was recognised with the following awards:

• Hanson Prize for final year MA student with the highest average mark in Philosophy of Religion

• Ulrich Simon Prize for the highest average MA mark in the Department of Religious Studies