Liberal Arts In Print – April 2026
The following are publications that have been published from January to March 2026.
Hegel and Republicanism
Authored by Justin S. Morrill Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Chris Yeomans (Cambridge University Press)
This book examines how the political philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831) relates to the long tradition of republican political thought, which traces its roots to Machiavelli and further to Polybius and Aristotle. The book explores Hegel and the republicans’ common concerns with freedom as non-domination, the republic as a fragile achievement, and the effects of commerce and ambition on social and political relations. Hegel turns out to be surprisingly optimistic about the possibilities of substantive political participation in the modern world.
Political Meritocracy in the 21st Century
Authored by Brian Kogelmann, associate professor of philosophy (Cambridge University Press)
This book examines the renewed philosophical debate over whether political power should be distributed based on competence and virtue rather than strict political equality. The book surveys three contemporary approaches to this idea, epistocracy (giving more political influence to knowledgeable voters), Confucian meritocracy (elite selection based on virtue and ability), and democratic meritocracy (the belief that elections can identify ;capable leaders).
Supernatural Japan
Authored by Pedro Bassoe, assistant professor of Japanese (University of Michigan Press)
This book examines the work of Japanese writer Izumi Kyōka and his role in shaping modern supernatural fiction in Japan. The book explores how Kyōka’s ghost stories and fantastical tales blend traditional Japanese folklore with influences from European and global literature, helping establish the “fantastic” as a modern literary genre in Japan. It also introduces the idea of a “scholarly fantastic,” showing how Kyōka’s stories combine supernatural elements with modern intellectual and scientific perspectives.
The Handbook of Communication in Africa: Theory, Research, and Praxis
Co-edited by Stacey Connaughton, professor of communication (Routledge)
This handbook maps the field of communication studies as it relates specifically to African societies. Rather than presenting a single argument like a traditional monograph, it brings together multiple researchers to examine how communication theory, research, and real-world practice intersect across the continent. The handbook argues that understanding communication in Africa requires moving beyond Western-centric theories and instead centering African perspectives, histories, and cultural contexts.
The Islands and the Stars
Authored by Subodana Wijeyerante, assistant professor of history (Standford University Press)
This is a historical study of Japan’s space program and its place in the broader story of science, technology, and modern Japanese society. Drawing on extensive archival research, the book traces the development of Japan’s space efforts from early rocket experiments in the 1920s through the country’s postwar technological rise and the creation of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2003.
The Routledge Handbook of Communication and Social Cognition
Co-edited by Torsten Reimer, professor of communication and director of College of Liberal Arts Research Academy (Routledge)
An interdisciplinary handbook that examines how the ways people think shape communication—and how communication, in turn, shapes how people think about the social world. This volume explores how cognitive mechanisms such as perception, emotion, stereotypes, and framing shape how messages are produced, interpreted, and shared across interpersonal, group, and mediated contexts.