Prof. Max Edling, Professor of Early American History, King’s College London.
The 1776 Declaration of Independence is sometimes viewed as an idealistic celebration of universal liberty, but what if its primary goals were actually rooted in international law and state survival? Professor Max Edling, a leading authority on early American state-building from King’s College London, will invite us to look past the familiar rhetoric. His research reframes the American Revolution not just as a fight for freedom, but as a pragmatic effort to create a powerful nation-state capable of defending itself. This lecture will offer a fresh, thought-provoking perspective on a foundational text.