Civitas Outlook

Civitas Outlook, the online journal of the Civitas Institute, publishes original writing about the ideas that create flourishing societies.

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Originalism and Its Adversaries

Originalism and Its Adversaries

At some point, we all end up being in the minority, and when that happens, all those obstacles that seemed horrible when your party was in power will seem the very things that are preventing us from embarking down the road to ruin.

John G. Malcom
Constitutionalism
May 29, 2026

When Mao Took China

When Mao Took China

Having already taught us so much about Chinese Communist history in his previous four books, Dikötter faced a difficult task to add something new. He has done so brilliantly.

Sean McMeekin
Politics
May 29, 2026

Edmund Phelps and the Culture of Dynamism

Edmund Phelps and the Culture of Dynamism

His research led him to a new theory of what he called “indigenous innovation,” whereby economic progress and growth are fueled not by inventions in labs, but by widespread grassroots tinkering and experimentation in the day-to-day economy.

Ryan Streeter
Economic Dynamism
May 28, 2026

All topics

Civitas Outlook seeks understanding from a variety of authors, ideas, and disciplines. Choose a specific topic above or explore our full library.

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Chemerinsky's Constitutional Wishlist
Tal Fortgang
Constitutionalism
Dec 31, 2024
Getting Family Policy Wrong
John Shelton
Pursuit of Happiness
Dec 30, 2024
Originalism Must Restore Self Government
Johnathan O’Neill
Constitutionalism
Dec 27, 2024
Alienation and Apple
Rachel Lu
Pursuit of Happiness
Dec 26, 2024
Bernard-Henri Lévi's Case for Israel
Max Prowant
Politics
Dec 23, 2024
Fixing Inflation, Right-Sizing the Federal Government
Scott Winship
Economic Dynamism
Dec 20, 2024

Economic Dynamism

We consider the principles, policies, and culture that supports free market capitalism

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Edmund Phelps and the Culture of Dynamism
Ryan Streeter
Economic Dynamism
May 28, 2026
The Contested Legacy of Keynes’ 'General Theory'
Joshua Banerjee
Economic Dynamism
May 27, 2026
Edmund Phelps: Economist of Values
Economic Dynamism
May 26, 2026
AI Vulnerability Can Spur Tech Progress
Economic Dynamism
May 26, 2026
The Beginning of the Warsh Fed Era
Economic Dynamism
May 22, 2026
Proxy Advisors Vote “No” on Texas
Michael Toth
Economic Dynamism
May 21, 2026

Politics

We investigate what it means to be a constitutional people who remain tethered to the rule of law.

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When Mao Took China
Sean McMeekin
Politics
May 29, 2026
Does Amtrak Really Need Airport-Level Security?: A Response to Jonathan Hartley
Amy Swearer
Politics
May 28, 2026
AI Governance by Phone Call
Kevin Frazier
Politics
May 26, 2026
The Rebooted Animal Farm’s New Villain: Capitalism
Titus Techera
Politics
May 22, 2026
The Future of ESG and DEI
Paul Mueller
Politics
May 20, 2026
Mamdani’s Baseless Invocation of International Law
Tal Fortgang
Politics
May 19, 2026

Constitutionalism

We discuss the political thought that undergirds a society of freedom and virtue.

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Originalism and Its Adversaries
John G. Malcom
Constitutionalism
May 29, 2026
A Warning to Quorum Breakers
Aaron L. Nielson
Constitutionalism
May 27, 2026
When Can a Crass Political Remark Be Deemed an Indictable “Threat of Violence”?
Paul J. Larkin
Constitutionalism
May 22, 2026
Struck By Lightning Fifty Years Later: The Court’s Broken Promise on the Death Penalty
Craig S. Lerner
Constitutionalism
May 21, 2026
The Curse of 'Penn Central'
Richard Epstein
Constitutionalism
May 21, 2026
What Happiness Ought We Pursue? Natural Rights and the Declaration of Independence
Constitutionalism
May 19, 2026

Pursuit of Happiness

We explore how citizens, neighbors, workers, families, and communities shape the future of American society.

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Conversion by Inches?
Brian Smith
Pursuit of Happiness
Oct 10, 2025
Did Leo Strauss Get Religion?
Paul Seaton
Pursuit of Happiness
Oct 3, 2025
The Philosophy of Jacques Maritain — A Long-Awaited Introduction
Thomas D. Howes
Pursuit of Happiness
Oct 3, 2025
Pascal's Diagnosis of the Modern Soul
Titus Techera
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 30, 2025
Cormac McCarthy's Western Canon
Casey Spinks
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 26, 2025
The Freedom to Speak and the Duty to Listen
David F. Forte
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 24, 2025

Technology & Innovation

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We are a community of scholars exploring the ideas and institutions that create flourishing societies.

The Civitas Institute is part of the University of Texas at Austin.

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