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Christopher R. Hallenbrook, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor 

Department of Political Science 

Office: SBS C 338 

Phone number: 310-243-3435

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Ph.D., University of California, Davis – 2015 

M.A., University of California, Davis – 2014 

B.A., Bridgewater State University – 2009  

Biography

Professor Hallenbrook studies political theory with an emphasis on the history of political thought. His recent book, , builds a theory of intergenerational justice and applies it to several public policy questions, including education, the responsible development of artificial intelligence, the national debt, and race. His previous work applying political theory to public policy engages gun control and global climate change. He also writes on political obligation (our duty to obey the state) in 17th and 18th Century Anglo-American thought. He focuses on the origin of obedience and when the obligation to the state is dissolved, especially in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes.

Themes of political obligation, the dissolution of the state, and what individuals owe to each tie together his research and teaching interests. His class POL 371 "Conflict, Violence, Nonviolence and Peace" engage these questions in a global context. The class brings together political theorists’ assorted philosophies of violence, resistance, and obligation with empirical political scientists’ research findings of complex issues including civil war, genocide, terrorism, coups, and revolutions. Students are thus able to explore the failures of politics as well as the causes and prevention of political violence through a combination of political theory, comparative politics, and international relations research. These themes and class experiences have inspired him since becoming L.G. Endowed Chair of Global and Comparative Politics in August 2025. He looks forward to continuing to facilitate students learning about these themes and all aspects of global politics through international travel, campus speakers, field trips to consulates, and other events.

Professor Hallenbrook frequently facilitates and comments upon US politics. He was a panelist questioning candidates in a WVIA Congressional Debate for Pennsylvania’s 9th District in 2018 and moderated candidate forums in Carson, CA since 2022. He’s provided expert interviews to The LA Times, KNX radio, KFI AM 640, FOX56 WOLF, Spectrum News 1 SoCal, and California News Service radio.

You can learn more about his various projects on his .

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• POL 101: American Institutions 
• POL 310: Current Issues in American Politics 
• POL 350: History of Political Ideas 
• POL 351: Modern Political Thought 
• POL 354: American Political Thought 

• POL 361: Constitutional Law of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 
• POL 371 Conflict and Violence 
• UNV 101: Eating Philosophy