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Jean Bethke ElshtainThe Laura Spelman Rockefeller professor of social and political ethics at the University of Chicago, Jean Bethke Elshtain is a political philosopher who focuses on the connections between political and ethical convictions. She serves as co-chair of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, and chair of The Council on Families in America.

She has also served as chair of the Council on Civil Society and has written extensively on such topics as democracy and its problems, as well as sovereignty and international relations.