New Edition of Kirk’s “The Politics of Prudence” Forthcoming

The Kirk Center is delighted to announce that a 30th Anniversary Edition of Russell Kirk’s popular book, The Politics of Prudence, is forthcoming from Regnery Publishing with a new introduction by Dr. Michael Federici.

An understanding of the classical virtue of prudence as practical wisdom, the capacity of choosing the right means to attain worthy ends, is much neglected in our time. It is the virtue most needed in the statesman. If the tradition of prudential politics has fallen on hard times, its comeback might well begin in the pages of this book. 

Distinguishing political prudence from ideology, Kirk examines ten principles, events, books, and thinkers that have shaped the conservative mind and heart. The final chapter examines the shortcomings of democracy throughout the world and the need for representative government conducted by temperate and thoughtful men and women. In a stirring epilogue, Kirk calls the rising generation to the defense of order—both the moral order and the social order, the order of the soul and the order of society—against the enemies of justice, freedom, and a high culture. 

 Advanced orders may be placed now. The anticipated publication date is October 3, 2023.

More From Our Highlights & News

What Do Students Say about the Center?

April was a busy month of programming at the Kirk Center. Of the four educational programs we held, two were four-day seminars for graduate and undergraduate students, while the other two were shorter programs for students from Calvin University and from St. Michael’s...

Hope College Students Consider “The Human Condition”

The Tocqueville Forum of Hope College enjoyed a wonderful seminar at the Kirk Center from October 24 to 26 considering “The Human Condition.” Seminar speakers included Kirk Center Senior Fellows Gleaves Whitney and Jeff Polet, Cara Rogers (Asst. Professor of History,...

Interns Engage with Conservative Principles

Each summer, the Kirk Center welcomes a group of interns from the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty to an intellectual retreat to focus on first principles. This July, Acton interns gathered in the Kirk library for a seminar titled "Politics,...