Headshot of Dr. Javier  Hidalgo

Dr. Javier Hidalgo

Professor of Leadership Studies
Professor of Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law
Curriculum Vitae

  • Profile

    Dr. Javier Hidalgo is a political theorist whose teaching and research interests center on political philosophy, applied ethics, Buddhist philosophy, and pedagogy.

    He teaches courses such as Leadership and the Humanities, Leadership in International Contexts, Leadership and Religious Values, and Leadership Ethics Applied in the Field. 

    A Fulbright Scholar, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from Reed College and a master's and doctorate from the Program in Political Philosophy at Princeton University. He was a visiting scholar at Brown University prior to joining the Jepson School.

    Expand All
    • Grants and Fellowships

      Fulbright Research Scholarship, 2005-2006

    • Awards

      Distinguished Educator Award, University of Richmond, 2019


      Finalist for the American Political Science Association Best Dissertation Award in the field of Human Rights, 2012


      George Kateb Prize for Best Preceptor in Politics, 2011

  • Selected Publications
    Books

    Hidalgo, Javier. Unjust Borders: Individuals and the Ethics of Immigration (New York: Routledge, 2019). 

    Journal Articles

    Hidalgo, Javier. "Parfitian or Buddhist Reductionism? Revisiting a Debate about Personal Identity." Asian Journal of Philosophy, 3 (2024): 1-25. 

    Hidalgo, Javier. "Reacting to the Past as Education for Leadership." Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies, 2 (2023): 5-20.

    Freiman, Christopher, and Javier Hidalgo. “Only Libertarianism Can Provide a Robust Justification for Open Borders.” Politics Philosophy & Economics 21, no. 3 (Summer 2022). https://doi.org/10.1177/1470594X221091278.

    Hidalgo, Javier. “Buddhist Ethics as a Path: A Defense of Normative Gradualism.” Philosophy East & West 72, no. 2 (April 2022): 335–54. https://doi.org/10.1353/pew.2022.0044.

    Hidalgo, Javier. “You Survive Teletransportation,” Think 21 no. 61 (2022): 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1017/S147717562100049X

    Hidalgo, Javier. “Brock on Open Borders,” Philosophy and Public Issues 11.1 (2021): 49-68. 

    Hidalgo, Javier. "An Abhidharmic Theory of Welfare," Asian Philosophy 31:3 (2021): 254-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/09552367.2021.1899436

    Hidalgo, Javier. "Empty or Emergent Persons? A Critique of Buddhist Personalism," Comparative Philosophy 12:1 (2021): 76-97. https://doi.org/10.31979/2151-6014(2021).120108 

    Book Chapters

    Hidalgo, Javier. "Political Leadership and the Struggle for Tibet, 1950-1959." In Case Studies in Political Leadership, eds. George R. Goethals and Scott T. Allison (Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025).

    Hidalgo, Javier. “Philosophy and Leadership.” In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Leadership Studies, eds. George R. Goethals, Scott T. Allison, and Georgia J. Sorenson (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2023).

    Hidalgo, Javier. “Special Obligations and Leadership Ethics.” In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Leadership Studies, eds. George R. Goethals, Scott T. Allison, and Georgia J. Sorenson (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2023).

    Hidalgo, Javier. “Open Borders,” in Living Ethics: An Introduction with Readings, ed. Russ Shafer-Landau, second edition (Oxford University Press, 2021).

  • Links