Meet New Faculty Member Didier Zúñiga

Our new Assistant Professor Didier Zúñiga has joined us and we asked him our "get to know you" questions!

Could you tell us a little bit about your professional background, and what you’ve enjoyed the most about your career so far?
I studied at the University of Victoria from 2015 to 2020, where I completed a PhD in Political Science with a specialization in political theory. I was also part of the interdisciplinary Cultural, Social, and Political Thought program. Following my doctoral studies, I obtained a SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Philosophy at McGill University, from 2020 to 2022. I was then lucky enough to be awarded another postdoctoral fellowship, this time at the Centre de Recherche en Éthique (Center for Research in Ethics) in Montréal, where I worked from 2022 to 2023. Finally, I was incredibly fortunate to be offered the position here at the University of Alberta! 

And what I’ve enjoyed the most about my career so far has been the privilege of reading, thinking, writing, and engaging in meaningful dialogues with peers, students, and friends. 

What inspired you to enter this field?
Diversity and difference have always captivated my interest. When I started graduate school, my primary focus revolved around conventional aspects of human diversity, such as cultural and religious diversity. My work was also more deeply embedded in the field of ‘political theory’ as commonly understood. Since then, my research trajectory has taken a few turns, and I have developed a strong inclination towards interdisciplinary approaches and an emphasis on nonhuman worlds.  

Tell us about your research?
My research is oriented towards learning from and engaging with alternative ways of relating to the multiplicity of beings, ecosystems, and interconnected webs of life on Earth. My main goal is to extend ethics and politics beyond conventional understandings of ‘the human’, and thus to deparochialize and to ecologize political thought. While my work traverses disciplinary boundaries, it is primarily situated within political theory, with a focus on environmental and ecological thinking, feminist theories, Indigenous and decolonial politics, disability studies, and critical animal studies, among others. I have also developed a growing interest in comparative political theory, as well as decolonial, anti-colonial, and postcolonial thought. Within these sub-fields, my work delves into the interplay between nature, technology, and ontology, with a specific focus on Mexico and Mesoamerican worlds.   

Tell us about your teaching
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to teach courses at the University of Victoria on ‘Democracy and Diversity’ and ‘Ancient Political Thought’. At the University of Alberta, I look forward to teaching courses centered around ‘climate politics’ in a broad sense. These courses will engage with critical ecological inquires, addressing questions such as: What is nature? Who/what counts as a political subject? And how to foster more meaningful and respectful relationships with the living world (among others)?

What are your impressions of Edmonton/the University of Alberta so far?
My impressions of the University of Alberta are highly positive! I love the emphasis placed on interdisciplinarity and critical inquiry, which aligns with my own academic interests. I very much look forward to working with and learning from colleagues, students, and staff within the Department of Political Science and beyond. And I am excited to explore Edmonton and its surroundings!

Who are your four dream dinner guests (living or dead)?
My dream dinner guests are my partner and friends!

What are your hobbies, or things you like to do outside of work?
I love reading fiction, especially Latin American fiction (including chronicles and short stories). In the past couple of years, I’ve been almost only reading contemporary Latin American authors (it’s probably the nostalgia of being away from home for so long!). I also love taking care of my cat (even though in reality, it is she who takes care of me), and I am passionate about cinema and music. No surprises there, I enjoy watching and listening to Latin American filmmakers and musicians, although I also of course appreciate works from diverse backgrounds.