Cameron Vaziri
Ph.D. Candidate | Philosophy | Duquesne University
Research Interests
My research uses continental political philosophy, especially Foucault, Deleuze, and Derrida, to analyze international politics, political theory, and culture. My dissertation theorizes international relations as competing disciplinary regimes seeking to manage existential anxieties through the control of difference.
Areas of Specialization: Social & Political Philosophy, Political Theory, International Relations, 20th Century French Thought
Additional Areas of Interest: Revolutions & Social Movements, Theories of Identity, Aesthetics & Politics of Videogames
Education
Ph.D. Candidate Duquesne University, Philosophy, Current
M.A. Duquesne University, Philosophy, May 2025
M.A. Johns Hopkins University SAIS, International Relations, May 2022
Focuses: Global Theory & History, International Political Economy
Capstone: Haunting Foucault: Genealogical Revolution and the Specter of Islam
B.A. University of North Texas, August 2012
Majors: Philosophy, Political Science; Minor: History
Presentations & Publications
“The Death of the War Machine and the Creation of the Prison: The Warrior, The Soldier, and the Noble Lie.” Foucault Circle, University of Notre Dame, April 2026.
“The Bomb’s Prison and the International Arena: A New Theorization of International Relations in an Age of Disciplinary Power.” ISA, Columbus, OH, March 2026.
“Toy Soldiers: The End of the Warrior Class in the Nuclear Age.” ISA Midwest, St. Louis, MO, November 2025.
“The Tragedy of Nuclear Power Politics: Realism and the Moral Order of the Bomb.” ISA West, Pasadena, CA, September 2025.
“Haunting Foucault: Genealogical Revolution and the Specter of Islam.” MPSA, Chicago, IL, April 2025.
“Playing with Aporias: How Style Challenges the Narrative Structuralism of Videogames.” North Texas Philosophical Association, University of Texas at Dallas, March 2025.
“Bred for Extinction: AI and the Automation of Animal Husbandry.” ICSA World Congress, Pasadena, CA (Virtual), October 2024.
“Non-Apologies: Culture, Competition, & Ethics at Hainan.” ISA West, Pasadena, CA, September 2024.
“Press Pause to Play: Stopping the Videogame as Poststructuralist Engagement.” Ereignis Conference, Ereignis Center for Philosophy and the Arts, August 2024.
“The Eighteen-Year Layover: Documentation and Identity at the Border.” ICNAP/SPHS Joint Conference, Duquesne University, May 2024.
Moderator, Panel Two, Max Stirner Symposium, Duquesne University (Virtual), March 2024.
“Videogames as Micro-Resistance.” In Exploring Videogames: Culture, Design and Identity, 95-104. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2013.
“Inevitability Ethics: Revisiting Eco-Authoritarianism.” Societas Ethicas, Utrecht University, August 2013.
“Videogames as Micro-Resistance.” Inter-Disciplinary, Oxford University, July 2011.
“A Revolution of History in a Time of Revolutions: Foucault and the Iranian Revolution.” Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Conference, Binghamton University, March 2011.
“Nuclear Cultures: Cross-Civilizational Nuclear Representations.” Co-Author: Kevin Lewis, UNT Philosophy and Nuclear Technology Colloquia, Denton, TX, February 2011.
“The Absent Army: A Critique of Active Nihilism in the Nuclear Age.” UNT Philosophy and Nuclear Technology Colloquia, Denton, TX, February 2011.
“Revolution as Genealogical: Foucault and the Iranian Revolution.” Phi Sigma Tau Undergraduate Conference, UNT, Denton, TX, November 2010
“Foucault’s Revolution.” UNT Phi Sigma Tau Colloquia, Denton, TX, February 2010.
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Instructor, Philosophy, Duquesne University, Spring 2026: Democracy & Justice
Debate Consultant, Coppell HS, Coppell ISD, 2022-2023
Teacher, Grades: 9-12, Hebron HS, Lewisville ISD, 2015-2020: Business Law & Management, Professional Communications, Public Speaking, Debate 1-4
Assistant Director of Debate, Hebron HS, Lewisville ISD, 2015-2020
Academic Activities
Duquesne Graduate Students in Philosophy (GSIP)
Treasurer, 2024-2025; GSIP Conference Committee
Duquesne Minorities and Philosophy (MAP)
Vice President, 2024-2025; Co-Founder of the MAP Speaker Series
University of North Texas
Philosophy Department Student Ambassador; Phi Sigma Tau Philosophy Society Member
Professional Associations & Certifications
Interdisciplinary Coalition of North American Phenomenologists
International Studies Association
National Speech & Debate Association
Society of Phenomenology and the Human Sciences
Texas Education Agency Certified Teacher
Awards, Scholarships, & Honors
Dean’s Office Conference Travel Award, Duquesne University, Spring, 2025.
Mike and Erica Strasser Endowment Tuition Award, Duquesne University, Fall, 2024.
SAIS Institutional Grant Reconsideration Fund Scholarship, Johns Hopkins, Fall, 2021.
Donus D. Roberts Debate Coach Excellence Award, NSDA, Fall, 2018.
First Year Teacher of the Year Hebron High School, Spring, 2016.
First Year Teacher of the Year Nominee Lewisville ISD, Spring, 2016.
Languages
French: intermediate reading, intermediate speaking, intermediate writing
Persian/Farsi: intermediate reading, intermediate speaking, intermediate writing (ACTFL OPI: Intermediate, 2022)
Graduate Coursework
Duquesne University
Badiou: Being & Event, Dr. Jay Lampert
Deleuze: A Thousand Plateaus, Dr. Jay Lampert
Derrida, Dr. Jay Lampert
Early Modern Political Philosophy, Dr. Daniel Selcer
Enlightenment & its Critics, Dr. Richard Agin
Epicurean Ethics, Dr. Kelly Arenson
Foucault, Dr. Daniel Selcer
Image Theory, Dr. Daniel Selcer
Islamic Philosophy, Dr. Thérèse Bonin
Marx & Critical Theory, Dr. James Swindal
Nietzsche, Dr. Patrick Miller
Plato’s Phaedrus & Symposium, Dr. Kelly Arenson
Spinoza: Ethics, Dr. Daniel Selcer
Johns Hopkins University SAIS
Anthropology for Strategists, Dr. Brady Cusick
Clashing Information Orders, Dr. Henry Farrell
Climate Change: Science, Economics & Politics, Dr. Sarah Jordaan
Comparative Politics, Dr. Allison Berland
Democracy in Crisis, Dr. Yascha Mounk
Geopolitics of the Middle East, Dr. Vali Nasr
International Monetary Theory, Dr. Cristino Arroyo
International Trade Theory, Dr. Christine McDaniel
The Iranian Revolution at 40, Dr. Narges Bajoghli
Macroeconomics, Dr. Marta Giagheddu
Media Wars, Dr. Narges Bajoghli
Microeconomics, Dr. Paul Piveteau
Persian Novice – Intermediate 1, Dr. Mohamad Esmaili-Sardari
Politics of Protest in Europe & Eurasia, Dr. Lisel Hintz
Psychology & Decision-Making in Foreign Policy, Dr. Lisel Hintz
Statistical Methods for Business & Economics, Dr. John Harrington
Theories of International Relations, Dr. Andrew Cheon
References
Dr. Daniel Selcer, Philosophy, Duquesne University
Dr. Jay Lampert, Philosophy, Duquesne University
Dr. James Swindal, Philosophy, Duquesne University
Dr. Narges Bajoghli, International Relations, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Vali Nasr, International Relations, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Lisel Hintz, International Relations, Johns Hopkins University