![James Wakefield BA MA PhD FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2372?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr James Wakefield
BA MA PhD FHEA
Teams and roles for James Wakefield
Teacher
Overview
I teach modules on Political Thought (and its history), Ethics, Government and Political Science in the Department of Politics and International Relations.
My research focuses on European and American political theory, ethics, philosophy of education, and intellectual history.
I'm always happy to talk to students about philosophy, politics, intellectual history and essay-writing.
Publication
2025
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2025. Actualist language in Speculum Mentis. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 30(1), pp. 79-109., article number: 4.
2023
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2023. Review essay: Ugo Spirito comes full circle. History of European Ideas 49(4), pp. 769-774. (10.1080/01916599.2022.2131218)
2022
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2022. The god emperor and the tyrant: the political theology of Frank Herbert's Dune saga. In: Decker, K. S. ed. Dune and Philosophy. Wiley Blackwell, pp. 201-210., (10.1002/9781119841425.ch20)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2022. Tyranny and totalitarianism in philosophical perspective. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 28, pp. 83-102.
2021
- Haddock, B., Peters, R. and Wakefield, J. R. M. eds. 2021. Idealism & experience: The philosophy of Guido de Ruggiero. Imprint Academic.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2021. On whether William Hazlitt was a philosophical idealist (and why it matters). The Hazlitt Review 14, pp. 5-23.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2021. A. James Gregor on the 'Karl Marx of fascism'. In: Messina, A. ed. Comprendere il Novecento tra storia e scienze sociali. La ricerca di A. James Gregor. Rubbettino, pp. 163-184.
2020
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. The idea of God in the actualist tradition. Il Pensiero Storico: Rivista internazionale di storia delle idee 8, pp. 125-150.
- Haddock, B., Peters, R. and Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. Introduction. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 1-18.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Philosophical premises. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 345-374.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Idealism reconsidered. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 331-343.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Italian thought and the War. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 263-307.
- De Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. The ethic of historicism. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 249-261.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. The free spirit: Guido de Ruggiero on actualism and politics. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 53-84.
2018
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. Thinking and feeling in actual idealism. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 26(4), pp. 782-801. (10.1080/09608788.2017.1337561)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. L'attualismo e il suo autore. Prospettive per la ricerca futura su Gentile. Il Pensiero Italiano. Rivista di studi filosofici 1(2), pp. 47-67. (10.6092/2532-6864/2017.2.47-67)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. Actualism and its author: Prospects for the future of Gentile Studies. Il Pensiero Italiano. Rivista di studi filosofici 1(2), pp. 27-45. (10.6092/2532-6864/2017.2.27-45)
2015
- Haddock, B. and Wakefield, J. eds. 2015. Thought thinking: the philosophy of Giovanni Gentile. Exeter: Imprint Academic.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2015. Giovanni Gentile as moral philosopher. In: Haddock, B. and Wakefield, J. R. M. eds. Thought Thinking: The Philosophy of Giovanni Gentile. Exeter: Imprint Academic, pp. 73-103.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2015. Giovanni Gentile and the state of contemporary constructivism: A study of actual idealist moral theory. Exeter: Imprint Academic.
2014
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. M. (. 2014. Basic concepts of actualism. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 343-359.
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. . R. M. (. 2014. The moral problem. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 311-342.
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. (. 2014. Pure experience and historical reality. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 277-309.
- Gentile, G., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2014. The method of immanence. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 235-275.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2014. Giovanni Gentile as moral philosopher. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 73-103.
- Coli, D. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. M. (. 2014. Gentile and modernity. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 137-166.
2013
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2013. Talking their way out of relativism: Collingwood and Gentile on the nature of inquiry. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 19(2), pp. 139-168.
- Wakefield, J. 2013. Giovanni Gentile and the state of contemporary constructivism. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Articles
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2025. Actualist language in Speculum Mentis. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 30(1), pp. 79-109., article number: 4.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2023. Review essay: Ugo Spirito comes full circle. History of European Ideas 49(4), pp. 769-774. (10.1080/01916599.2022.2131218)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2022. Tyranny and totalitarianism in philosophical perspective. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 28, pp. 83-102.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2021. On whether William Hazlitt was a philosophical idealist (and why it matters). The Hazlitt Review 14, pp. 5-23.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. The idea of God in the actualist tradition. Il Pensiero Storico: Rivista internazionale di storia delle idee 8, pp. 125-150.
- Haddock, B., Peters, R. and Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. Introduction. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 1-18.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Philosophical premises. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 345-374.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Idealism reconsidered. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 331-343.
- de Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. Italian thought and the War. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 263-307.
- De Ruggiero, G. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2020. The ethic of historicism. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 249-261.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2020. The free spirit: Guido de Ruggiero on actualism and politics. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 26(1-2), pp. 53-84.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. Thinking and feeling in actual idealism. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 26(4), pp. 782-801. (10.1080/09608788.2017.1337561)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. L'attualismo e il suo autore. Prospettive per la ricerca futura su Gentile. Il Pensiero Italiano. Rivista di studi filosofici 1(2), pp. 47-67. (10.6092/2532-6864/2017.2.47-67)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2018. Actualism and its author: Prospects for the future of Gentile Studies. Il Pensiero Italiano. Rivista di studi filosofici 1(2), pp. 27-45. (10.6092/2532-6864/2017.2.27-45)
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. M. (. 2014. Basic concepts of actualism. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 343-359.
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. . R. M. (. 2014. The moral problem. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 311-342.
- Gentile, G. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. (. 2014. Pure experience and historical reality. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 277-309.
- Gentile, G., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. (. 2014. The method of immanence. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 235-275.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2014. Giovanni Gentile as moral philosopher. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 73-103.
- Coli, D. (., Lloyd, L. (. and Wakefield, J. R. M. (. 2014. Gentile and modernity. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 20(1-2), pp. 137-166.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2013. Talking their way out of relativism: Collingwood and Gentile on the nature of inquiry. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies 19(2), pp. 139-168.
Book sections
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2022. The god emperor and the tyrant: the political theology of Frank Herbert's Dune saga. In: Decker, K. S. ed. Dune and Philosophy. Wiley Blackwell, pp. 201-210., (10.1002/9781119841425.ch20)
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2021. A. James Gregor on the 'Karl Marx of fascism'. In: Messina, A. ed. Comprendere il Novecento tra storia e scienze sociali. La ricerca di A. James Gregor. Rubbettino, pp. 163-184.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2015. Giovanni Gentile as moral philosopher. In: Haddock, B. and Wakefield, J. R. M. eds. Thought Thinking: The Philosophy of Giovanni Gentile. Exeter: Imprint Academic, pp. 73-103.
Books
- Haddock, B., Peters, R. and Wakefield, J. R. M. eds. 2021. Idealism & experience: The philosophy of Guido de Ruggiero. Imprint Academic.
- Haddock, B. and Wakefield, J. eds. 2015. Thought thinking: the philosophy of Giovanni Gentile. Exeter: Imprint Academic.
- Wakefield, J. R. M. 2015. Giovanni Gentile and the state of contemporary constructivism: A study of actual idealist moral theory. Exeter: Imprint Academic.
Thesis
- Wakefield, J. 2013. Giovanni Gentile and the state of contemporary constructivism. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Research
Much of my work to date has centred on the history of political thought and ethics. In particular, I have written extensively about the Sicilian philosopher Giovanni Gentile (1875–1944) and others in his circle, including Guido De Ruggiero (1888–1948) and Ugo Spirito (1896–1979). This project has yielded articles, translations, reviews, a monograph (2015), and two edited volumes (2015 and 2021).
My other research interests include:
- philosophy of education and its relation to political theory;
- the history of moral, social and political ideas in the eighteenth century;
- theories of totalitarianism and dictatorship in reality and fiction;
- the early nineteenth-century radical William Hazlitt and his contemporaries; and
- political realism and the work of Judith N. Shklar.
Teaching
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Modules taught in the 2024–25 academic year
- PLT457 Ethics of Public Policy [coordinator]
- PLT134 Themes and Debates in Political Research
- PL9340 Politics in Practice [coordinator]
- CL6336 Law and Governance in Practice [coordinator]
- PL9249 Revolutionising the Political Order: British Social Theory in the Eighteenth Century [coordinator]
- PL9250 Politics and International Relations Placement Year [coordinator]
- PL9196 Introduction to Political Thought
- PL9194 Introduction to Political Science
Modules taught in previous years
- PLT432 Themes and Debates in Contemporary Comparative Politics
- PL9343 Crisis and Commitment in 20th Century Political Thought
- PL9247 Revolutionising the Political Order: Social Theory from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the July Revolution of 1830
- PL9291 Justice and Politics
- PL9199 Introduction to Government
- PL9198 Introduction to European Integration
- PL9235 The History of Realist Thought in International Relations
- PL9293 Political Thought from Marx to Nietzsche
- MLT319 Research Methods: Approaches to Texts
- EUT012 Twentieth-Century Political Thinkers
I have also taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Philosophy and Politics at Swansea University.
Biography
Since 2016, I have been a Teacher in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Between 2013 and 2016 I was an Honorary Research Fellow of Cardiff University and between 2017 and 2019 I also taught in the Department of Political and Cultural Studies at Swansea University.
I hold a PhD from Cardiff University (awarded 2014). This was supervised by Prof. Bruce Haddock and Dr Peri Roberts in what was then the School of European Languages, Translation and Politics.
Before coming to Cardiff in 2010, I completed an MA in Political Theory at the University of Sheffield (awarded 2011) and a BA in Political Science at the University of Birmingham (2009).
Academic positions
- 2016–present: Teacher, Cardiff University
- 2017–2019: Module Tutor/Tutor, Swansea University
- 2013–2016: Honorary Research Fellow, Cardiff University
- 2011–2013: Associate Lecturer, Cardiff University
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Political theory and political philosophy
- Ethical theory
- Applied ethics
- History of philosophy