Leslie Paul Thiele is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida. His interdisciplinary research focuses on political thought, technology, sustainability, and the intersection of political philosophy and the natural sciences. His central concerns are the responsibilities of citizenship and the opportunities for leadership in a world of rapid technological, social, and ecological change. Dr. Thiele serves as the Specialty Chief Editor for Politics of Technology in Frontiers in Political Science. His journal articles have appeared in: American Political Science Review, Canadian Journal of Political Science, Perspectives on Politics, Polity, New Political Science, Policy Studies Journal, Political Theory, Contemporary Political Theory, Theory and Event, Theoria, Critical Review, Journal of Modern History, Journal of Human Rights, Politics and the Life Sciences, Technology in Society, Environmental Ethics, Climatic Change, Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Science, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Global Environmental Politics, among others. Dr. Thiele has published 10 books, including The Art and Craft of Political Theory (Routledge 2019), Sustainability (Polity 2024) and Human Agency, Artificial Intelligence, and the Attention Economy: The Case for Digital Distancing (Palgrave Macmillan 2025).
In Fall 2025, Professor Thiele is on leave.
Please email thiele@ufl.edu to request an appointment for office hours.
Department of Political Science
302 Anderson Hall
University of Florida
P.O. Box 117325
Gainesville, Florida 32611-7325
Tel. (352) 273-2380
thiele@ufl.edu
Books
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