Dr. Elliott Schwebach, Political Science

Name:

Dr. Elliott Schwebach

Title:

Lecturer

Department:

Political Science

Describe your research in about 200 words.

I am a political theorist who takes a “Fanonian” approach to political and social life (guided by the work and legacy of Frantz Fanon). I focus primarily upon the political and psychological legacies of colonial oppression and the therapeutic nature of decolonial resistance. Through this lens, I have written on the political philosophy of property, the psychopolitics of street writing (graffiti), and topics pertaining to psychiatry, psychoanalysis, sexuality, and environmental theory.

What’s the most interesting thing you have learned from a student?

In my classes, we have had difficult conversations about identity-based experiences, privileges and oppression. At times, deeply felt personal wounds have surfaced in class discussions. By offering each other unprompted and incredibly touching expressions of care in moments such as these, my students have taught me a great deal about the potential for (and healing power of) empathy in the classroom.