The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is pleased to announce the release of a new book by Senior Scholar Dr. Donald J. Devine, “Thinking About Freedom and Tradition: Understanding the Philosophers Who Make the Case for Western Civilization.” At a time when civic literacy and historical understanding are increasingly fragile, Devine’s latest work offers a timely guide to the ideas that shaped liberty—and why they still matter today.
As a longtime scholar, teacher and public servant, Devine brings decades of experience to the question at the heart of the book: how freedom and tradition work together to sustain a free society, deepening the intellectual foundations of conversations in today’s complicated world.
Inside Thinking About Freedom and Tradition
“Thinking About Freedom and Tradition” is Devine’s 12th book, following “Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Principles: How They Can Promote Political Success Today,” published in 2023. This latest book offers a concise and compelling introduction to some of the most influential thinkers who shaped western civilization and continue to influence public policy, civic thought and the future of American liberty. Readers are guided through the minds of thinkers such as F.A. Hayek, Edmund Burke, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Schumpeter and many others, whose ideas laid the foundation for limited government, equal rights, the rule of law and free-market institutions.
In an age when classics are often dismissed, Devine’s book invites readers to engage with the great thinkers who shaped the West and still have much to teach. He traces the philosophical roots of freedom, from Aristotle to Aquinas, Locke to Lincoln, Burke to Hayek, exploring how the ideas of Western Civilization formed the institutions that protect liberty.
A Scholar Dedicated to Teaching Civics
Devine’s career spans academia, public service and civic education. He began as an associate professor at the University of Maryland, where he taught courses in American government and politics, public opinion, democratic theory, methodology and philosophy of science. He later left academia to serve as civil service director for President Ronald Reagan during his first term, working to reform the federal government also in several advisory appointments, including one in Donald Trump’s first term, and advising Congressional policymakers including Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and other national leaders.
Throughout his career, Devine has remained focused on the relationship between ideas and institutions and how philosophical principles shape real-world governance. He taught Western civilization and was director of the Federalist Leadership Center at Bellevue University for a decade, served as a columnist for The Washington Times, was editor of the American Conservative Unions’ Conservative Battleine and was a contributor to The American Spectator, Law & Liberty, Modern Age and other magazines, as well as an Adjunct Scholar at the Heritage Foundation.
Today, as a TFAS Senior Scholar, Devine continues this work by teaching students how freedom and tradition are harmonized within the American constitutional system, particularly surrounding the ideas of fusionism. His seminars challenge students to engage seriously with the philosophical roots of liberty and to see civic education as an active responsibility, not a passive inheritance.
Advancing the TFAS Mission Through Enduring Ideas
Devine’s scholarship reflects the core of the TFAS mission: how free societies govern themselves and cultivate responsible citizens. He helps students – and readers alike – understand not just what freedom is, but why it matters. Since 2011, Devine has continued to teach young people these ideals at TFAS. His seminars take students on a journey through human history, reviving the Constitution and what Reagan called the secret of its success: the way it harmonized freedom and tradition in its fragile balance called federalism.
Through his work with TFAS, Devine advances the same depth of understanding that TFAS programs aim to instill in students: a serious engagement with the ideas that sustain a free society. His previous works discuss classic philosophical thought in a way that resonates with the next generation of leaders, emphasizing TFAS’s commitment to equipping courageous leaders to protect and advance the ideas of individual liberty, personal responsibility and economic freedom in their communities.
Essential Reading for Understanding Freedom Today
During America’s 250th, civic understanding is more important than ever. Devine’s work offers a clear reminder: freedom endures only when its ideas are understood, taught and defended.
“Thinking About Freedom and Tradition: Understanding the Philosophers Who Make the Case for Western Civilization” is available now. Hear more from Dr. Donald Devine on the Liberty + Leadership Podcast.