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Josh Wilson

Joshua C Wilson

Professor

joshua.c.wilson@du.edu

303-871-2280 (Office)

https://joshuacwilson.com

Personal

Sturm Hall, 2000 East Asbury Avenue Denver, CO 80208

What I do

Professor of Political Science

Professional Biography

Professor Wilson's research, publications, and teaching concern the varying abilities of political and social movements to use law--broadly defined--in the pursuit of political ends. He has a Ph.D. in Jurisprudence & Social Policy from the University of California, Berkeley; he was the Fulbright Bicentennial Chair of American Studies at the University of Helsinki (2024-25); and he is the former Editor of Law & Policy.

Degree(s)

  • Ph.D., Jurisprudence & Social Policy, University of California, Bekeley, 2006

Professional Affiliations

  • Law & Society Association

Media Sources

Research

Professor Wilson's research and publications concern the varying abilities of conservative political and social movements to use law--broadly defined--in the pursuit of political ends.
He is the author of three books: Separate but Faithful: The Christian Right's Radical Struggle to Transform Law & Legal Culture (Oxford University Press: 2020, co-authored with Prof. Amanda Hollis-Brusky, Pomona College, funded with grant support from the National Science Foundation, & Honorable Mention recipient for APSA's Hubert Morken Best Book in Religion and Politics Award); The New States of Abortion Politics (Stanford University Press: 2016); The Street Politics of Abortion: Speech, Violence, and America's Culture Wars (Stanford University Press: 2013). His academic work has also been published in Law & Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, Law & Policy, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, and elsewhere.
His research has been discussed in The New York Times, Politico, The Atlantic, Reuters, US News & World Report, The Boston Globe, TIME, Bloomberg News, CQ Roll Call, The Guardian (UK), Macleans (CAN), on NPR & PRI, and elsewhere.
Related popular media pieces that he has authored have been placed in Newsweek, Politico, The Washington Post's Monkey Cage, The Christian Science Monitor, The Hill, NBC News' THINK, TIME, and elsewhere.

Areas of Research

American politics
law & social movements
abortion politics
American conservatism
law & society
Religion in US Politics.

Key Projects

  • Collaborative Research: The Efficacy of Support Structures for Legal Mobilization

Featured Publications

Hollis-Brusky, A., & Wilson, J. C. (2020). Separate but faithful: The Christian right's radical struggle to transform law and legal culture. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Wilson, J. C. (2016). The New States of Abortion Politics. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Wilson, J. C. (2013). The Street Politics of Abortion: Speech, Violence, and America's Culture Wars. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Presentations

Wilson, J. C. (2025). Elefantti Poslinikaupassa:Understanding Donald Trump. University of Helsinki: University of Helsinki, Think Corner Stage.
Wilson, J. C. (2025). The Least Dangerous Branch? Understanding Recent Developments in the US Conservative Legal Movement. Uppsala, Sweden: Uppsala University.
Wilson, J. C. (2024). "If Men Were Angels..": Mistrust's Enduring Legacy in US Politics. Bicentennial Inaugural Address. Helsinki, Finland: University of Helsinki, Fulbright Finland Foundation.
Wilson, J. C. (2024). Playing with Fire: Managing Extremism in Building Modern American Conservatism. Extremes. Turku, Finland: University of Turku, John Morton Center for North American Studies, & Turku Institute for Advanced Studies.

Awards

  • Honorable Mention recipient for Hubert Morken Best Book in Religion and Politics Award, American Political Science Association’s Religion and American Politics Section