Ben Boatwright Alexander
Author
Editor
Consultant
Shakespeare and Citizenship
Programs
Years ago the famous political theorist, Leo Strauss wrote of "regime change" that television commentators and even American Presidents have subsequently popularized . Among other theoretical concepts, the category has resourceful application to Shakespeare’s history plays such as Richard II and Julius Caesar that trace regime change and the significant repercussions for society. Shakespeare presents’s different social orders such as republics, monarchies, aristocracies, and liberal democracies. Shakespeare in his remarkable brilliance dramatizes such societies and the kinds of citizens and leaders that republican, monarchical, and dynastic societies produced (e. g. Brutus, Antony, Henry IV, and Henry V).
Shakespeare presents an unknown history in a language not heard on stage before in any sustained fashion, let alone a series of history plays. Several are cautionary such as Richard III. Shakespeare, searches the past for what political theorist, Eric Voegelin. calls the "order of history." Shakespeare finds it in feudal hierarchy and its political rituals. Shakespeare in the demise of Richard II anticipates the violent fate of Charles I who was “unkinged” in 1649 by puritan fanatics inspired by John Milton's pamphlets.
Writing in the 1590s Shakespeare prophetically looks to the past and future. Medieval kingship with its rootedness in transcendence provides one paradigm through which Eric Voegelin declares, “societies interpret themselves as representatives of transcendent truth.” Usurpers undermine political legitimacy, often by rebellion or conspiracy, drive rightful monarchs from their thrones. This lies at the core of what is known as political modernism which Shakespeare in his genius probes. He stages different perspectives in a host of characters giving ample voice to varying viewpoints without taking sides.
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Benjamin B. Alexander, Professor, held
Benjamin B. Alexander, Professor, held an interdisciplinary appointment (1992-2018) in the Departments of English and Political Science at Franciscan University of Steubenville (tenured 2008, retired, 2018). He was Chairman of the English Department from 1992-1996. He taught courses spanning a wide range in the fields of literature and political philosophy, including
⦁ American literature from the colonial to modern periods, including African-American literature and Southern literature,
⦁ medieval literature (Dante. Chaucer),
⦁ American political thought and,
⦁ Shakespeare and literature of the European Renaissance.
⦁ He also frequently taught in Franciscan University’s Honors Program of "great books" where he offered seminars in the Renaissance (Shakespeare, Milton, Montaigne, Machiavelli, Metaphysical poets) and modern periods (existential writers and thinkers, James Joyce, William Faulkner. et.al.) He incorporated writers of color (Ralph Ellison) in the seminar on modernism.
He received his undergraduate degree from Sewanee (the Univ. of the South, with Honors) and his M. A. and Ph.D. in literature from the University of Dallas, with political philosophy as a secondary field. Dr. Alexander also held appointments on the faculty at Hillsdale College from 1981 to 1986 where he was tenured (1985). Receiving academic tenure twice is a rare achievement, documenting that two different college faculties awarded lifetime teaching contracts to Dr. Alexander. He also has taught at
⦁ Hampden-Sydney College,
⦁ George Mason University,
⦁ Catholic University of America,
⦁ Washington College (Maryland),
⦁ Marymount University (Virginia), and
⦁ Augusta State (Ga.).
In addition to his academic appointments Dr. Alexander was a speechwriter/ consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education 1991-92. He also served in the communications division of the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the United States Information Agency. He also was appointed as a expert jurist and evaluated grants submitted by teachers and scholars to the National Endowment for the Humanities.
an interdisciplinary appointment (1992-2018) in the Departments of English and Political Science at Franciscan University of Steubenville (tenured 2008, retired, 2018). He was Chairman of the English Department from 1992-1996. He taught courses spanning a wide range in the fields of literature and political philosophy, including
⦁ American literature from the colonial to modern periods, including African-American literature and Southern literature,
⦁ medieval literature (Dante. Chaucer),
⦁ American political thought and,
⦁ Shakespeare and literature of the European Renaissance.
⦁ He also frequently taught in Franciscan University’s Honors Program of "great books" where he offered seminars in the Renaissance (Shakespeare, Milton, Montaigne, Machiavelli, Metaphysical poets) and modern periods (existential writers and thinkers, James Joyce, William Faulkner. et.al.) He incorporated writers of color (Ralph Ellison) in the seminar on modernism.
He received his undergraduate degree from Sewanee (the Univ. of the South, with Honors) and his M. A. and Ph.D. in literature from the University of Dallas, with political philosophy as a secondary field. Dr. Alexander also held appointments on the faculty at Hillsdale College from 1981 to 1986 where he was tenured (1985). Receiving academic tenure twice is a rare achievement, documenting that two different college faculties awarded lifetime teaching contracts to Dr. Alexander. He also has taught at
⦁ Hampden-Sydney College,
⦁ George Mason University,
⦁ Catholic University of America,
⦁ Washington College (Maryland),
⦁ Marymount University (Virginia), and
⦁ Augusta State (Ga.).
In addition to his academic appointments Dr. Alexander was a speechwriter/ consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Education 1991-92. He also served in the communications division of the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the United States Information Agency. He also was appointed as a expert jurist and evaluated grants submitted by teachers and scholars to the National Endowment for the Humanities.