Nicole Peisajovich

Welcome! I am a Ph.D. candidate in political theory at Columbia University. I specialize in democratic theory and the history of political thought, with a special focus on leadership and twentieth century theories of democracy. 

My dissertation, The Puzzle of Leadership in Democratic Theory, examines the tension between democracy and leadership. Given that leadership entails a power inequality between those who follow and those who lead, and given that democracy promises the political equality of all citizens, can leadership ever be compatible with democracy?  Can we distinguish between democratic and non-democratic forms of leadership? I argue that none of the three big democratic traditions that emerged after World War Two—the realist, the participatory, and the deliberative—can help us solve the puzzle democratic leadership poses. Drawing on the theory and practice of democracy in ancient Athens, I propose an alternative, and more productive, way of thinking about the role of leaders in a democratic setting. Under the right conditions, I contend, leadership enables and boosts democratic governance. 

Since 2021, I have been co-coordinator for the Conference for the Study of Political Thought (CSPT). You may find my CV here and my research projects here. Feel free to reach me at nmp2138@columbia.edu.