Bio

Josiah Ober, the Constantine Mitsotakis Chair in the School of Humanities and Sciences, specializes in the areas of ancient and modern political theory and historical institutionalism. His primary appointment is in Political Science; he holds a secondary appointment in the Classics and courtesy appointments in Philosophy and the Hoover Institution. His most recent books are The Greeks and the Rational: The discovery of practical reason (University of CaliforniaPress 2022) and Demopolis: Democracy before liberalism in theory and practice Cambridge University Press 2017). His ongoing work focuses on rationality (ancient and modern), the theory and practice of democracy, and the politics of knowledge and innovation, Recent articles and working papers address AI ethics, socio-political systems, economic growth and inequality, the relationship between democracy and dignity, and the aggregation of expertise.

He is author or co-author of about 100 articles and chapters (many available on his Academia.edu page) and several other books, including Fortress Attica (1985), Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Athenian Revolution (1996), Political Dissent in Democratic Athens (1998), Athenian Legacies 2005), Democracy and Knowledge (2008), and The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015). He has held residential fellowships at the National Humanities Center, Center for Hellenic Studies, Univ. of New England (Australia), Clare Hall (Cambridge), Center for the Advanced Study of the Behavioral Sciences , and Univ. of Sydney; research fellowships from the ACLS, NEH, and Guggenheim; and has been a visiting professor at University of Michigan, Paris I-Sorbonne, UC-Irvine, and UC-Berkeley. Before coming to Stanford he taught at Montana State University (1980-1990) and Princeton University (1990-2006).

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Sather Visiting Professor in Classics, University of California, Berkeley (2019 - 2020)
  • Visiting Fellow, Australian National University/University of Canberra (2018 - 2018)
  • Leventis Visiting Research Professor, Edinburgh University (2015 - 2015)
  • Seeley Lectures in Political Thought and Its History, Cambridge University (2015 - 2015)
  • Distinguished Visiting Scholar, School of Classics, St Andrews University (2014 - 2014)
  • Chairman, Department of Political Science, Stanford University (2010 - 2013)
  • Inaugural Lecture in Humanities and Social Science, Norwegian Academy of Arts and Sciences (2009 - 2009)
  • Lee Lecture in Political Science and Government, All Souls College Oxford University (2008 - 2008)
  • Balmuth Lectures, Tufts University (2007 - 2007)
  • Constantine Mitsotakis Professor in Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2006 - Present)
  • Professor of Classics, Stanford University (2006 - Present)
  • Professor of Philosophy by courtesy., Stanford University (2006 - Present)
  • Professor of Political Science, Stanford University (2006 - Present)
  • Visiting Fellow, University of Sydney (2006 - 2006)
  • Affliate, Center for Ethics in Society, Stanford University (2005 - Present)
  • Affiliated faculty, Department of Politics, Princeton University (2005 - 2006)
  • Senior Fellow, Center for Hellenic Studies (Washington DC) (2004 - 2009)
  • Fellowship (residential), Center for the Advanced Study of the Behavioral Sciences (2004 - 2005)
  • Wesson Lectures in Problems of Democracy, Stanford University (2004 - 2004)
  • Paul H. Nitze Senior Fellow, St. Mary’s College (Maryland) (2003 - 2004)
  • Biggs Resident in Classics, Washington University in St. Louis (2003 - 2003)
  • Professsor of Human Values, Princeton University (2001 - 2006)
  • Nichols Visiting Professor in Humanities and the Public Sphere, University of California at Irvine (2001 - 2001)
  • Professeur invité, Centre de recherche Gustave Glotz, Université Paris 1 Sorbonne (2000 - 2000)
  • Fellowship for University Teachers, National Endowment for the Humanities (1997 - 1997)
  • Visiting Fellowship, Clare Hall, Cambridge University (1997 - 1997)
  • Fellowship, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation (1996 - 1997)
  • Charles Beebe Martin Classical Lecturer, Oberlin College (1994 - 1994)
  • David Magie '97 Class of 1897 Professor of Classics, Princeton University (1993 - 2006)
  • Chairman, Department of Classics, Princeton University (1993 - 2000)
  • Visiting Fellow, University of New England, Australia (1991 - 1991)
  • Professor of Classics, Princeton University (1990 - 2006)
  • Fellowship, American Council of Learned Societies (1989 - 1990)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Michigan (1986 - 1987)
  • Fellowship (residential), National Humanities Center (1983 - 1984)
  • Fellowship for Recent Ph.D's, American Council of Learned Societies (1981 - 1981)
  • Assistant Professor to Professor, Department of History and Philosophy, Montana State University (1980 - 1990)

Honors & Awards

  • Douglass C. North Research Award, Society for Institutional and Organizational Economics (2016)
  • Leventis Visiting Research Professor, University of Edinburgh (2015)
  • Seeley Lecturer in Political Thought and Its History, Cambridge University (2015)
  • Townsend Lectures in Classics, Cornell University (2014)
  • Katz Distinguished Lecturer in the Humanities, University of Washington (2013)
  • Shortlisted for Hessell-Titman Prize, English PEN (2010)
  • Ten best books in history, The Independent (2010)
  • PROSE Award, Best Book in Classics and Ancient History, Association of Academic Publishers (2008)
  • Theodore Hesburgh Award, TIAA-CREF Institute (2004)
  • Fellow, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation (1996-97)
  • Charles Goodwin Award, American Philological Association (1989)
  • Wiley Award for Meritorious Research, Montana State University (1989)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Board of Trustees, Center for the Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2015 - 2017)
  • President, American Philological Association (2009 - 2009)

Program Affiliations

  • Center for Human Rights and International Justice

Professional Education

  • B.A, University of Minnesota, History (1975)
  • Ph.D., University of Michigan, History (1980)

Contact

  • Academic
    jober@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: Political Science Position: Professor
    • Political Science Department
    • 616 Jane Stanford Way
    • Encina Hall West, Room 100
    • Stanford,  California  94305 
    (650) 723-1808 (fax)
    University - Academic staff Department: HOOVER RESEARCH Position: Hoover Senior Fellow (650) 723-1808 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 6010-M

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason Sather Classical Lectures Ober, J. University of California Press. 2022
  • Demopolis. Democracy Before Liberalism in Theory and Practice Ober, J. Cambridge University Press. 2017

    View details for DOI 10.1017/9781108226790

  • The Rise and fall of classical greece Ober, J. Princeton University Press. 2015
  • Thucydides as a Prospect Theorist POLIS Ober, J., Perry, T. J. 2014; 31 (2): 206-232

    View details for DOI 10.1163/20512996-12340015

    View details for Web of Science ID 000342790800002

  • Democracy's Wisdom: An Aristotelian Middle Way for Collective Judgment AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW Ober, J. 2013; 107 (1): 104-122

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0003055412000627

    View details for Web of Science ID 000315340600006

  • Democracy's Dignity AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW Ober, J. 2012; 106 (4): 827-846

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S000305541200038X

    View details for Web of Science ID 000311519300008

  • Wealthy Hellas TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Ober, J. 2010; 140: 241-286
  • Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens Ober, J. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 2010
  • The Original Meaning of ‘Democracy’: Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule. CONSTELLATIONS Ober, J. 2008; 15 (1): 3-9
  • Political Dissent in Democratic Athens: Intellectual Critics of Popular Rule Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1998
  • Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens: Rhetoric, Ideology, and the Power of the People Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1989
  • Θ-Learning: An Algorithm for the Self-Organisation of Collective Self-Governance Mertzani, A., Ober, J., Pitt, J., IEEE IEEE COMPUTER SOC. 2023: 97-106

    View details for DOI 10.1109/ACSOS58161.2023.00027

    View details for Web of Science ID 001122711700011

  • Human Flourishing, Servitude, and Why They Are Incompatible IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE Ober, J. 2022; 41 (2): 24-29

    View details for DOI 10.1109/MTS.2022.3173332

    View details for Web of Science ID 000811573500012

  • Democracy Against Liberalism: Its Rise and Fall (Book Review) PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS Book Review Authored by: Ober, J. 2022; 20 (1): 302-303

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S1537592721003327

    View details for Web of Science ID 000766288600043

  • INEQUALITY CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO THE ANCIENT GREEK ECONOMY Ober, J., Scheidel, W., VonReden, S. 2022: 404-420

    View details for Web of Science ID 000952013000027

  • The Realness of Things Past: Ancient Greece and Ontological History (Book Review) AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW Book Review Authored by: Ober, J. 2020; 125 (4): 1360–63

    View details for Web of Science ID 000607855900025

  • Algorithmic Reflexive Governance for Socio-Techno-Ecological Systems IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE Pitt, J., Dryzek, J., Ober, J. 2020; 39 (2): 52–59

    View details for DOI 10.1109/MTS.2020.2991500

    View details for Web of Science ID 000543713100010

  • Fortifications and Democracy in the Ancient Greek World POLITICAL THEORY AND ARCHITECTURE Ober, J., Weingast, B., Bell, D., Zacka, B. 2020: 39-58

    View details for Web of Science ID 000637928400003

  • Is development uniquely modern? Ancient Athens on the doorstep PUBLIC CHOICE Carugati, F., Ober, J., Weingast, B. R. 2019; 181 (1-2): 29–47

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11127-018-00632-w

    View details for Web of Science ID 000463617600004

  • A Response to the Comments of Mansbridge, Cammack, McCormick, and Urbinati on Demopolis: Democracy Before Liberalism in Theory and Practice POLIS Ober, J. 2019; 36 (3): 555–64

    View details for DOI 10.1163/20512996-12340252

    View details for Web of Science ID 000491223500010

  • Knowledge Management for Self-Organised Resource Allocation ACM TRANSACTIONS ON AUTONOMOUS AND ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS Kurka, D., Pitt, J., Ober, J. 2019; 14 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1145/3337796

    View details for Web of Science ID 000488617500001

  • In Search of Democracy 4.0 Is Democracy as We Know It Destined to Die? IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE Manville, B., Ober, J. 2019; 38 (1): 32–42

    View details for DOI 10.1109/MTS.2019.2894458

    View details for Web of Science ID 000461243200006

  • What Did 'Democracy' Mean to Greek Democrats? PHILOSOPHY AND PUBLIC ISSUES Ober, J. 2019; 9 (2): 85–94

    View details for Web of Science ID 000503733700007

  • Relevant Expertise Aggregation for Policy Selection in Collective Adaptive Systems Pitt, J., Cardoso, R., Hart, E., Ober, J., IEEE IEEE. 2018: 136–41

    View details for DOI 10.1109/FAS-W.2018.00038

    View details for Web of Science ID 000469065900027

  • Democracy by Design: Basic Democracy and the Self-Organisation of Collective Governance Pitt, J., Ober, J., IEEE IEEE. 2018: 20–29

    View details for DOI 10.1109/SASO.2018.00013

    View details for Web of Science ID 000459885200003

  • Equality, legitimacy, interests, and preferences: historical notes on Quadratic Voting in a political context PUBLIC CHOICE Ober, J. 2017; 172 (1-2): 223-232

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11127-017-0409-0

    View details for Web of Science ID 000403782200010

  • Knowledge Management Processes and Design Principles for Self-Governing Socio-Technical Systems Pitt, J., Ober, J., Diaconescu, A., IEEE IEEE. 2017: 97–102

    View details for DOI 10.1109/FAS-W.2017.127

    View details for Web of Science ID 000426936100016

  • Basic Democracy DEMOPOLIS: DEMOCRACY BEFORE LIBERALISM IN THEORY AND PRACTICE Ober, J., Ober, J. 2017: 1-17

    View details for Web of Science ID 000446077600002

  • Mass and elite revisited Ober, J., Evans, R. ROUTLEDGE. 2017: 1-+

    View details for Web of Science ID 000451541700001

  • Joseph Schumpeter's Caesarist Democracy CRITICAL REVIEW Ober, J. 2017; 29 (4): 473–91

    View details for DOI 10.1080/08913811.2017.1394059

    View details for Web of Science ID 000433436600003

  • Development and Political Theory in Classical Athens POLIS Carugati, F., Ober, J., Weingast, B. R. 2016; 33 (1): 71-91

    View details for DOI 10.1163/20512996-12340074

    View details for Web of Science ID 000385268300005

  • The Trial of Socrates as a Political Trial Explaining 399 BCE POLITICAL TRIALS IN THEORY AND HISTORY Ober, J., Meierhenrich, J., Pendas, D. O. 2016: 65-87

    View details for Web of Science ID 000445544000002

  • Political Knowledge and Right-Sizing Government CRITICAL REVIEW Ober, J. 2015; 27 (3-4): 362-374

    View details for DOI 10.1080/08913811.2015.1111687

    View details for Web of Science ID 000370871400007

  • Classicists in Conversation: Interview Series HIRUNDO-MCGILL JOURNAL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES MacLean, R., Clapperton, B., Nelson, E., Israelson, J., Ober, J., Clapperton, B., Raaflaub, K., Nencu, C. 2014; 13: 89-105

    View details for Web of Science ID 000410267200011

  • The Debate over Civic Education in Classical Athens Living Education eMagazine Ober, J. 2013; 5
  • The Greeks and the New: Novelty in Ancient Greek Imagination and Experience (Book Review) JOURNAL OF HELLENIC STUDIES Book Review Authored by: Ober, J. 2013; 133: 184-185

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0075426913000323

    View details for Web of Science ID 000339662500032

  • La compétition, l’action collective et le problème du savoir utile. Mise en commun de l’information et convergence de l’action. Règles codifiées et publicité) et réponse à Charles Girard, Paulin Ismard et Vincent Azoulay Le savoir public Ober, J. edited by Macé, A. Besançon. 2013: 383–475, 495–499
  • Models and Paradigms in Ancient History Unioeste Ober, J. 2013
  • Epistemic democracy in classical Athens: Sophistication, diversity, innovation Collective Wisdom: Principles and Mechanisms Ober, J. edited by Elster, J., Landemore, H. Cambridge University Press. 2012: 118–147
  • Truth at the Door of Public Reason: Response to Cohen and Estlund TRUTH AND DEMOCRACY Ober, J., Elkins, J., Norris, A. 2012: 272-278

    View details for Web of Science ID 000301678800019

  • Epistemic Democracy in Classical Athens Sophistication, Diversity, and Innovation COLLECTIVE WISDOM: PRINCIPLES AND MECHANISMS Ober, J., Landemore, H., Elster, J. 2012: 118-147

    View details for Web of Science ID 000321433200007

  • The Original Meaning of ‘Democracy’: Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule Politics and Law: China and the World Ober, J. SDX Joint Publishing Company: Beijing. 2012
  • The Original Meaning of ‘Democracy’: Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule Revista do Instituto de Hermenêutica Jurídica Ober, J. 2012
  • The Original Meaning of ‘Democracy’: Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule Peking University Law Review Ober, J. 2012
  • Truth at the door of public reason. Response to Cohen and Estlund Truth and Democratic Politics. Ober, J. edited by Elkins, J., Norris, A. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. 2012: 272–278
  • Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece Raaflaud, K., Ober, J., Wallace, R. Milan: Edizioni Ariele. 2011
  • Comparing Democracies: A Spatial Method with Reference to Ancient Athens Cleisthène et Lycurgue d’Athènes: Autour du politique dans la cité classique Ober, J. edited by Azoulay, V., Ismard, P. Editions du Sorbonne, Paris. 2011
  • Socrates and democratic Athens Cambridge Companion to Socrates Ober, J. edited by Morrison, D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010: 136–175
  • The instrumental value of others and institutional change: An Athenian case study Valuing Others in Classical Antiquity Ober, J. edited by Sluiter, L., Johnson, R. Leiden: Brill. 2010: 56–78
  • Thucydides on Athens’ democratic advantage in the Archidaman War War, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens Ober, J. edited by Pritchard, D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010: 65–87
  • What's Wrong with Democracy? From Athenian Practice to American Worship (Book Review) COMMON KNOWLEDGE Book Review Authored by: Ober, J. 2009; 15 (3): 501-501

    View details for DOI 10.1215/0961754X-2009-025

    View details for Web of Science ID 000269330700013

  • Democracy, Knowledge, and Public Action in Classical Athens Athens-Sparta: Contributions to the History and Archaeology and of the Two City-States Ober, J. New York: Onassis Foundation. 2009: 66–73
  • Can we learn from Athenian democracy? Applied Classics: Comparisons, Constructs, Controversies Ober, J. edited by Kuhn, C., Chaniotis, A. Stuttgart: Springer Verlag. 2009: 207–230
  • Public Action and Rational Choice in Classical Greek Political Theory A Companion to Ancient Political Thought Ober, J. edited by Balot, R. Oxford: Blackwell. 2009: 70–84
  • Political Dissent in Democratic Athens: Intellectual Critics of Popular Rule Korunk Ober, J. 2009
  • After Cultural Studies: When the State Has Not Withered Away Republics of Letters: A Journal for the Study of Knowledge, Politics, and the Arts Ober, J. 2009; 1 (1)
  • Thucydides Theôrêtikos/Thucydides Histôr: Realist Theory and the Challenge of History Oxford Readings in Thucydides Ober, J. edited by Rusten, J. Oxford. 2009: 434–478
  • The Original Meaning of "Democracy": Capacity to Do Things, not Majority Rule CONSTELLATIONS-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRITICAL AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY Ober, J. 2008; 15 (1): 3-9

    View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1467-8675.2008.00471.x

    View details for Web of Science ID 000211349600001

  • What the ancient Greeks can tell us about democracy ANNUAL REVIEW OF POLITICAL SCIENCE Ober, J. 2008; 11: 67-91

    View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev.polisci.11.112006.143750

    View details for Web of Science ID 000257149100004

  • Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens. Ober, J. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 2008
  • Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens Ober, J. Princeton University Press. 2008
  • Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece Raaflaud, K., Ober, J., Wallace, R. University of Calfornia Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 2008
  • Toward open access in ancient studies - The Princeton-Stanford Working Papers in Classics HESPERIA Ober, J., Scheidel, W., Shaw, B. D., Sanclemente, D. 2007; 76 (1): 229-242

    View details for Web of Science ID 000247087800009

  • "I Besieged That Man" Democracy's Revolutionary Start ORIGINS OF DEMOCRACY IN ANCIENT GREECE Ober, J., Raaflaub, K., Ober, J., Wallace, R. 2007: 83-104

    View details for Web of Science ID 000296191600004

  • Democratic Athens as an Experimental System. History and the Project of Political Theory Science Without Laws: Model Systems, Cases and Exemplary Narratives Ober, J. edited by Creager, A. Duke University Press. 2007: 225–242
  • Athenian Legacies: Essays on the Politics of Going on Together Ober, J. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 2007
  • I Besieged that Man.' Democracy's Revolutionary Start Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece Raaflaud, K., Ober, J., Wallace, R. University of Calfornia Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 2007: 83–104
  • Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens: Rhetoric, Ideology, and the Power of the People Oxford Readings in Attic Orators Ober, J. 2007
  • Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved de Waal, F. edited by Macedo, S., Ober, J. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 2007
  • Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece Raaflaud, K., Ober, J., Wallace, R. University of Calfornia Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 2007
  • Natural capacities and democracy as a good-in-itself PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES Ober, J. 2007; 132 (1): 59-73

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11098-006-9053-0

    View details for Web of Science ID 000244463400005

  • FROM EPISTEMIC DIVERSITY TO COMMON KNOWLEDGE: RATIONAL RITUALS AND COOPERATION IN DEMOCRATIC ATHENS EPISTEME-A JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL EPISTEMOLOGY Ober, J. 2006; 3 (3): 214-233

    View details for DOI 10.3366/epi.2006.3.3.214

    View details for Web of Science ID 000208975900007

  • Solon and the Horoi Solon: New Historical and Philological Perpectives Ober, J. edited by Blok, J., Lardinois, A. E.J. Brill: Leiden. 2006: 441–456
  • PRIMATES AND PHILOSOPHERS How Morality Evolved Introduction PRIMATES AND PHILOSOPHERS: HOW MORALITY EVOLVED Ober, J., Macedo, S., Macedo, S., Ober, J. 2006: IX-+

    View details for Web of Science ID 000286730500001

  • Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved de Waal, F. edited by Macedo, S., Ober, J. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 2006
  • Thucydides and the Invention of Politial Science Brill Companion to Thucydides Ober, J. E.J. Brill: Leiden. 2006: 131–159
  • A Judicious Study of Discernible Reality POLIS Ober, J. 2005; 22 (2)
  • Aristotle’s Natural Democracy Aristotle’s Politics: Critical Essays Ober, J. edited by Kraut, R., Skultety, S. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield. 2005: 223–243
  • Democracy, Knowledge, and Moral Change (A Response to Euben and Lebow) HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: THE BULLETIN OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ober, J. 2005; 6 (6): 26-28
  • Law and Political Theory Cambridge Companion to Greek Law Ober, J. edited by Gagarin, M., Cohen, D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2005: 394–411
  • A Company of Citizens: What the World's First Democracy Teaches Leaders about Building Great Organizations Manville, B., Ober, J. Istanbul: Kapital Medya. 2005
  • Athenian Legacies: Essays on the Politics of Going on Together Ober, J. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 2005
  • I, Socrates… The Performative Audacity of Isocrates’ Antidosis Isocrates and Civic Education Ober, J. edited by Poulakos, T., Depew, D. Austin: University of Texas Press. 2004: 21–43
  • The Athenian Revolution of 508/7 B.C.E: Violence, Authority, and the Origins of Democracy Athenian Democracy Ober, J. edited by Rhodes, P. J. Edinburgh U.P. 2004
  • The Athenian Revolution of 508/7 B.C.E: Violence, Authority, and the Origins of Democracy Ancient Greek Democracy: Readings and Sources Ober, J. edited by Robinson, E. W. Blackwell. 2004
  • Oratory and Power in Democratic Athens: Demosthenes 21, Against Meidias Ancient Greek Democracy: Readings and Sources Ober, J. edited by Robinson, E. W. Blackwell. 2004
  • Classical Athenian Democracy and Democracy Today: Culture, Knowledge, Power The Promotion of Knowledge: Essays to Mark the Centenary of the British Academy, 1902-2002 Ober, J. edited by Morrill, J. 2004: 145–161
  • A Company of Citizens: What the World's First Democracy Teaches Leaders about Building Great Organizations Manville, B., Ober, J. Athens: Klidarithmos. 2003
  • Postscript: Culture, Thin Coherence, and the Persistence of Politics The Cultures within Greek Culture Ober, J. edited by Dougherty, C., Kurke, L. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2003: 237–255
  • A Company of Citizens: What the World's First Democracy Teaches Leaders about Building Great Organizations Manville, B., Ober, J. Harvard Business School Press: Boston. 2003
  • Tyrant-killing as Therapeutic Stasis: A Political Debate in Images and Texts Popular Tyranny: Sovereignty and Its Discontents in Ancient Greece Ober, J. edited by Morgan, K. Austin: University of Texas Press. 2003: 215–250
  • The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C. Reacting to the Past Series Carnes, M. C., Ober, J. Pearson Custom Publishing: New York. 2003
  • Mazes kai Elit stê Dêmokratikê Athêna Ober, J. Polytropon: Athens. 2003
  • Conditions for Athenian Democracy The Making and Unmaking of Democracy: Lesssons from History and World Politics Ober, J. edited by Rabb, T., Suleiman, E. London and New York: Routledge. 2002: 2–21
  • History, Philosophy, and Democracy POLIS Ober, J. 2002; 19: 145-156
  • Social science history, cultural history, and the amnesty of 403. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, VOL 132 Ober, J. 2002; 132 (1-2): 127-137

    View details for Web of Science ID 000180597300007

  • Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens: Rhetoric, Ideology, and the Power of the People Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 2002
  • The Debate over Civic Education in Classical Athens Education in Greek and Roman Antiquity Ober, J. edited by Too, Y. L. Leiden: E.J. Brill. 2001: 273–305
  • Political Dissent in Democratic Athens: Intellectual Critics of Popular Rule Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 2001
  • Thucydides Theôrêtikos/Thucydides Histôr: Realist Theory and the Challenge of History Democracy and War: A Comparative Study of the Korean War and the Peloponnesian War Ober, J. edited by McCann, D. R., Strauss, B. S. Armonk, N.Y. and London: M.E. Sharpe. 2001: 273–306
  • Political Conflicts, Political debates, and Political Thought The Shorter Oxford History of Europe I: Classical Greece Ober, J. edited by Osborne, R. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000: 111–138
  • Quasi-rights: Participatory citizenship and negative liberties in democratic Athens SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY & POLICY Ober, J. 2000; 17 (1): 27-61

    View details for Web of Science ID 000084715500002

  • The Orators The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Political Thought Ober, J. edited by Rowe, C., Schofield, M. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2000: 131–141
  • Living Freely as a Slave of the Law: Notes on Why Socrates Lives in Athens Polis and Politics: Studies in Greek History Ober, J. edited by Flensted-Jensen, P., Nielsen, T. H., Rubinstein, L. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press. 2000: 541–552
  • Quasi-Rights: Participatory Citizenship and Negative Liberties in Democratic Athens Democracy Ober, J. edited by Paul, E. F., Millar, F. D., Paul, J. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,. 2000: 27–61
  • The Athenian Revolution. Essays on Ancient Greek Democracy and Political Theory Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1999
  • Revolution Matters: Democracy as Demotic Action (Response to Kurt Raaflaub) Democracy 2500? Questions and Challenges Ober, J. edited by Raaflaud, K., Morris, I. 1998: 67–85
  • Démocratie directe Démocratie Ober, J. edited by Darnton, R., Duhamel, O. Paris: Editions du Rocher. 1998: 145–151
  • The Athenian Revolution. Essays on Ancient Greek Democracy and Political Theory Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1996
  • Demokratia: A Conversation on Democracies, Ancient and Modern edited by Ober, J., Hedrick, C. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1996
  • Responsible popularization + Classics: An introduction CLASSICAL BULLETIN Ober, J. 1996; 72 (2): 85-91

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996WZ62000002

  • Greek Horoi: Artifactual Texts and the Contingency of Meaning Methods in the Mediterranean: Historical and Archaeological Views of Texts and Archaeology Ober, J. edited by Small, D. Leiden: E.J. Brill. 1995: 91–123
  • Classical Greek Times The Laws of War: Constraints on Warfare in the Western World Ober, J. edited by Howard, M., Andreopouloa, G., Shulman, M. R. New Haven: Yale U.P.. 1994: 12–26, 227–230
  • Athenian Political Thought and the Reconstruction of American Democracy edited by Euben, J. P., Wallach, J., Ober, J. Cornell University Press: Ithaca. 1994
  • How to Criticize Democracy Athenian Political Thought Ober, J. edited by Euben, P., Wallach, J., Ober, J. Ithaca: Cornell U.P.. 1994: 149–171
  • Civic Ideology and Counterhegemonic Discourse: Thucydides on the Sicilian Debate Athenian Identity and Civic Identity Ober, J. edited by Boegehold, A. L., Scafuro, A. C. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. 1994: 102–126
  • Oratory and Power in Democratic Athens: Demosthenes 21, Against Meidias Persuasion: Greek Rhetoric in Action Ober, J. edited by Worthington, I. London and New York: Routledge. 1994: 85–108
  • PUBLIC SPEECH AND THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC ATHENS PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS Ober, J. 1993; 26 (3): 481-486

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993LV80500007

  • The Birth of Democracy edited by Ober, J., Hedrick, C. American School of Classical Studies at Athens: Princeton. 1993
  • Thucydides' Criticism of Democratic Knowledge Nomodeiktes: Greek Studies in Honor of Martin Ostwald Ober, J. edited by Rosen, R. M., Farrell, J. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 1993: 81–98
  • The Athenian Revolution of 508/7 B.C.E: Violence, Authority, and the Origins of Democracy Cultural Poetics in Archaic Greece: Cult, Performance, Politics Ober, J. edited by Dougherty, C., Kurke, L. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. 1993: 215–232
  • The Polis as a Society: Aristotle, John Rawls, and the Athenian Social Contract The Ancient Greek City-State: Historisk-filosofiske Meddelelser 67 Ober, J. edited by Hansen, M. H. Copenhagen: Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. 1993: 129–160
  • The Anatomy of Error: Ancient Military Disasters and Their Lessons for Modern Strategists Strauss, B. S., Ober, J. St. Martin's Press: New York. 1992
  • Towards a Typology of Greek Artillery Towers: The First and Second Generations (c.375-275 B.C.) Fortificationes Antiquae. McGill University Monographs in Classical Archaeology and History Ober, J. edited by de Maele, S. V., Fossey, J. M. G.C. Gieben: Amsterdam. 1992: 147–169
  • Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens: Rhetoric, Ideology, and the Power of the People Ober, J. Princeton University Press: Princeton. 1991
  • Response to Edward Cohen (on Banking as a `Family Business') Symposion 1990: Vorträge zur griechischen und hellenistischen Rechtsgeschichte Ober, J. edited by Gagarin, M. Böhlau Verlag: Cologne. 1991: 265–271
  • Hoplites and Obstacles Hoplites: The Classical Greek Battle Experience Ober, J. edited by Hanson, V. D. Routledge: London and New York. 1991: 173–196
  • "The Athenians and Their Democracy" (review article: Wood, Peasant-Citizen and Slave: The Foundations of Athenian Democracy; Sinclair, Democracy and Participation in Athens; Farrar, The Origins of Democratic Thinking: The Invention of Politics in Classical Athens), ECHOS DU MONDE CLASSIQUE Ober, J. 1991; 35: 81-96
  • Aristotle's Political Sociology: Class, Status, and Order in the Politics Essays on the Foundations of Aristotelian Political Science Ober, J. edited by Lord, C., O'Connor, D. K. University of California Press: Berkeley and L.A. 1991: 112–135
  • National Ideology and Strategic Defense of the Population, from Athens to Star Wars Hegemonic Rivalry: from Thucydides to the Nuclear Age Ober, J. edited by Lebow, N., Strauss, B. S. Westview Press: Boulder. 1991: 251–267
  • Drama, Political Rhetoric, and the Discourse of Athenian Democracy Nothing to Do with Dionysos? Athenian Drama in Its Social Context Ober, J., Strauss, B. S. edited by Winkler, J. J., Zeitlin, F. I. Princeton U.P.: Princeton. 1990: 237–270
  • The Anatomy of Error: Ancient Military Disasters and Their Lessons for Modern Strategists Strauss, B. S., Ober, J. St. Martin's Press: New York. 1990
  • THE NATURE OF ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY + CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS ON HANSEN,MOGENS,HERMAN THE 'ATHENIAN ASSEMBLY IN THE AGE OF DEMOSTHENES' CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY Ober, J. 1989; 84 (4): 322-334

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989CK26500007

  • Models and Paradigms in Ancient History ANCIENT HISTORY BULLETIN Ober, J. 1989; 3: 134-137
  • DEFENSE OF THE ATHENIAN LAND FRONTIER 404-322-BC, A REPLY PHOENIX-THE JOURNAL OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Ober, J. 1989; 43 (4): 294-301

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989CV26300002

  • EARLY ARTILLERY TOWERS - MESSENIA, BOIOTIA, ATTICA, MEGARID AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY Ober, J. 1987; 91 (4): 569-604

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987K472100005

  • POTTERY AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTIFACTS FROM FORTIFIED SITES IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN ATTICA HESPERIA Ober, J. 1987; 56 (2): 197-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987H652400003

  • Public Opinion and the Role of Sea Power in Athens, 404-322 B.C Naval History - The Sixth Symposium of the U.S. Naval Academy Ober, J. edited by Masterson, D. M. Wilmington, Delaware. 1987: 26–32
  • Fortress Attica: Defense of the Athenian Land Frontier, 404-322 B.C. Mnemosyne Supplement Ober, J. E.J. Brill: Leiden. 1985; 84
  • Thucydides, Pericles, and the Strategy of Defense Essays in Honor of Starr Ober, J. edited by Eadie, Ober, J. 1985: 171–188
  • The Craft of the Ancient Historian: Essays in Honor of Chester G. Starr edited by Eadie, J. W., Ober, J. University Press of America: Lanham, Maryland. 1985
  • 2 ANCIENT WATCHTOWERS ABOVE AIGOSTHENA IN THE NORTHERN MEGARID AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY Ober, J. 1983; 87 (3): 387-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1983QZ96700008

  • CLARKE,EDWARD ANCIENT ROAD TO MARATHON AD 1801 HESPERIA Ober, J. 1982; 51 (4): 453-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982PU92400004

  • TIBERIUS AND THE POLITICAL TESTAMENT OF AUGUSTUS HISTORIA-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ALTE GESCHICHTE Ober, J. 1982; 31 (3): 306-328

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982PE41500003

  • ROCK-CUT INSCRIPTIONS FROM MT HYMETTOS HESPERIA Ober, J. 1981; 50 (1): 68-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1981LL33400003

  • Views of Sea Power in the Fourth-Century Attic Orators ANCIENT WORLD Ober, J. 1978; 1: 119-130