A faculty member of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in the Department of Political Science since 1974, Michael Barkun specializes in international law, millenarianism, political extremism and religion and politics. Barkun teaches courses on religion and politics, international law and counter-terrorism. Forthcoming articles include “Defending against the Apocalypse: The Limits of Homeland Security” in Critical Concepts in Political Science: Terrorism and “Terrorism and Doomsday” in The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training and Root Causes.
Professor Barkun was selected the 2003 Distinguished Scholar by the Communal Studies Association. The award acknowledges Barkun's career of outstanding contributions to the field.
Courses:
Religion and Politics
Counter-Terrorism & the Law
Books:
Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America, University of California Press, 2003
Religion and the Racist Right, University of North Carolina Press, 1997
Crucible of the Millennium, Syracuse University Press, 1986
Disaster and the Millennium, Yale University Press, 1974
Law Without Sanctions, Yale University Press, 1968
Research Interests:
Millenarian and apocalyptic groups; political extremism; religiously-based violence; conspiracy theories.
Current Research Projects:
"Religion, Secrecy, and National Security" -- the position of religious freedom in an era of religiously-driven terrorism, involving issues of privacy, religious community seclusion, and law enforcement practice.
"Terrorism and Doomsday" -- the relationship between terrorist aims and millennial beliefs, as well as the potential association of terrorism with "doomsday weapons" (WMD).
"The Contemporary Significance of The Protocols" -- the continued influence of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion a century after publication and more than eighty years after their exposure.
