Laurens van Esch received a Bachelor’s degree in History (2006) and Master’s degrees in History (2007) and in Philosophy (2011) from Utrecht University. In 2023, he completed his PhD in Philosophy, also at Utrecht University. In 2015, he started teaching at St. Stephen’s University, where he currently serves as Assistant Professor of Political Philosophy as well as External Relations Coordinator. 

Laurens’ research and teaching interests straddle the boundary between the disciplines of cultural history and political philosophy. He loves to reflect on how the study of the past relates to the pursuit of justice in the present, and is particularly interested in the power of story, religion, and commemorative practices within emancipatory social movements.

Out of the classroom, Laurens has participated in various forms of Indigenous solidarity efforts, mainly through and in partnership with Community Peacemaker Teams, Mennonite Church Canada and the German Mennonite Peace Committee. This included advocacy work in support of the Grassy Narrows First Nation (2012-2013), a 500 km ‘Honour Walk’ to honour the survivors of Residential Schools (2014), a short stint at Standing Rock (2016) and a 600 km ‘Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights’ to Ottawa (2017).