Max Waltman
About me
Max Waltman's primary position is at Halmstad University, where he is an assistant professor/senior lecturer of political science. His research addresses fundamental problems in democratic theory related to the meaning of citizenship, equality, and freedom. It is problem-driven and seeks to understand and explain the obstacles and potential for political systems to tackle exploitation, violence, and discrimination. Waltman's book Pornography: The Politics of Legal Challenges was published by Oxford University Press in 2021 and offers an interdisciplinary analysis of how the explosive spread of pornography contributes to violence against women, including prostitution, and constructs a political theory on how to address the problem consistent with legal free speech guarantees. The research is comparative, situated within the fields of politics and gender, political theory, specifically democratic theory, and constitutional, civil, and criminal law and courts. The book was recently reviewed in the prestigious journals of Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy and Frontiers of Sociology, respectively.
Waltman’s work appears in Harvard Journal of Law & Gender, Political Research Quarterly, Michigan Journal of International Law, Women’s Studies International Forum, Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice, and Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, as well as in other publications. His op-eds have been published in the New York Times, Toronto Star, in Swedish newspapers (e.g., DN, SvD, GP), and various online news sites. Legislative bodies domestically and abroad have consulted him, and he works on policy initiatives with prostitution survivors and feminist groups.
During the academic year 2016–2017, Waltman was a visiting researcher and fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. During the academic year 2017–2018, he was a visiting researcher at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Waltman has received post-doctoral research funds from the Wenner-Gren Foundations (Sweden) and was awarded the Sweden-America Foundation’s Prins Bertil fellowship 2016. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Stockholm University.
Research
PEER-REVIEWED AND LAW-REVIEWED SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS
Pornography: The Politics of Legal Challenges. New York: Oxford University Press, 2021 (pp. 560)
“The Politics of Legal Challenges to Pornography: A Comparative Analysis.” Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society 35, no. 1 (2020): 1–41.
“Appraising the Impact of Toward a Feminist Theory of the State: Consciousness-Raising, Hierarchy Theory, and Substantive Equality Laws.” Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice 35, no. 2 (2017): 353–91.
“Assessing Evidence, Arguments, and Inequality in Bedford v. Canada.” Harvard J. Law & Gender 37 (2014): 459-544.
“Prohibiting Sex Purchasing and Ending Trafficking: The Swedish Prostitution Law.” Michigan J. Int’l Law 33 (2011): 133-57 (translated into Korean).
“Sweden’s Prohibition of Purchase of Sex: The Law’s Reasons, Impact, and Potential.” Women’s Studies Int’l Forum 34, no. 5 (2011): 449-74 (free version on SSRN).
“Rethinking Democracy: Legal Challenges to Pornography and Sex Inequality in Canada and the United States.” Political Research Quarterly 63, no. 1 (2010): 218-237 (free version on SSRN) (additional podcasts available with Amy Mazur, co-editor of PRQ, Catharine MacKinnon, Kathleen Mahoney, William Hudnut, and Max Waltman).
Ph.D. Dissertation
The Politics of Legal Challenges to Pornography: Canada, Sweden, and the United States. Stockholm Studies in Politics 160. Stockholm University, 2014. ISBN 9789176490471 (monograph; limited edition)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS & PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS
Våld exploatering & ohälsa i pornografi: En systematisk kunskapssammanställning om samtida produktionsförhållanden. Bilaga 8 i SOU 2023:98 Sexuellt utnyttjande i pornografiska syften – våldsutsatthet som behöver synliggöras. Vol. 2 [Appx. 8 to gov't report series (SOU) 2023:98 (Swed.)] (250 pp.).
“Pornografins koppling till prostitution och våld mot kvinnor: En analys av forskningsläget och rättspolitisk diskussion” [Pornography’s Association to Prostitution and Violence Against Women: An Analytical Research Review and Discussion of Legal Politics]. In Stora porrboken, edited by Nina Rung, 41–51. Stockholm: Rebel Books, 2021.
Pornografi och mäns våld mot kvinnor, with a preface by Catharine A. MacKinnon, in collaboration with Unizon. Part 2 of Porr och prostitution: en rapport om utsatthet och efterfrågan, edited by Unizon, pp. 31-108. Stockholm: Unizon, 2016.
Pornography and Men’s Violence Against Women, translated by Marion Söderström, reviewed and revised by Max Waltman, with a Preface by Catharine A. Mackinnon, and in collaboration with Unizon. Part 2 in Pornography and Prostitution: A Report on Exploitation and Demand, edited by Unizon, pp. 31-108. Stockholm: Unizon, 2016.
Remissvar till SOU 2016:42, ”Ett starkt straffrättsligt skydd mot köp av sexuell tjänst och utnyttjande av barn genom köp av sexuell handling, m.m.” [considerate party brief], submitted Oct. 24, accessed Oct. 30, 2016 at Sweden’s government.
With Catharine A. MacKinnon, “[Gemensamt] Svar till Förbud mot köp av sexuell tjänst: En utvärdering 1999-2008 (SOU 2010:49)“ (remissvar) / “A Response to Prohibition Against Purchase of Sexual Service: An Evaluation 1999-2008 (SOU 2010:49)“ (considerate parties’ brief) (Feb. 2, 2011) (submission with 12 signatories, NGOs/individuals).
With Catharine A. MacKinnon, “Förslag till regeringens utredning av sexköpslagen / Suggestions to the Government’s Review of the Sex Purchase Act (Sweden)“ (March 17, 2010) (submission with 13 signatories, NGOs/individuals).
SELECTED POPULAR MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
"Så kan vi åtala OnlyFans för koppleri" [Thus, We May Prosecute OnlyFans for Procuring]. Debatt, Parabol, December 1, 2023 (online).
”’Pleasure’ visar en tillrättalagd och falsk bild av porrindustrin” [“Pleasure” Shows a Doctored and False Image of the Pornography Industry]. Kulturdebatt, Svenska Dagbladet, January 13, 2022, pp. 24–25 (print version).
“Barnombudsmannens förnekelse liknar klimatskeptikerns” [The Child Ombudsman’s Denial Is Similar to the Climate Skeptic’s] Göteborgs-Posten, October 13, 2021.
"Barnombudsmannen förminskar pornografins påverkan” [The Ombudsman for Children Minimizes the Pornography’s Effect]. Debatt, Göteborgs-Posten, September 29, 2021.
”Förstör inte stödet att lämna prostitution” [Don’t Destroy Support For Exiting Prostitution]. (With Stockholm Girls’ Shelter et al.) Op-Ed, SvT-Opinion, December 8, 2016.
“Criminalize Only the Buying of Sex.” Op-Ed, Room for Debate, New York Times, April 20, 2012.
“The Scars of Prostitution.” Op-Ed, Toronto Star, Oct. 31, 2011.
“Evidence Shows Ending Demand Works.” Op-Ed, Rabble.ca (News Site), Oct. 11, 2012.
“Stärk prostituerade personers möjlighet att kräva skadestånd” [Empower Prostituted Persons' Options for Demanding Damages]. (With MP Carina Hägg (S), MEP Eva-Britt Svensson (V), Olga Persson (SKR) et al.) Op-Ed, Göteborgs-Posten, May 10, 2011.
“Vårt förslag handlar inte om tvång” [Our Proposal is Not Compulsory]. (With SKR [Olga Persson], Gudrun Schyman, Luis Ramos-Ruggiero et al.) Op-Ed, SvD Opinion-Brännpunkt, Svenska Dagbladet, Apr. 14, 2011.
“Prostituerade är brottsoffer” [Prostituted Persons are Crime Victims]. (With SKR [Olga Persson], Gudrun Schyman, Luis Ramos-Ruggiero et al.) Op-Ed, SvD Opinion-Brännpunkt, Svenska Dagbladet, Apr. 9, 2011.
“Torskarna ska betala skadestånd till de prostituerade [personerna]” [The Johns Shall Pay Damages to Prostituted Persons]. (With Catharine A. MacKinnon, Gudrun Schyman, et al.), Newsmill, Nov. 4, 2008.
“Porr inspirerar till våld” [Porn Inspires Violence]. (With Gurdun Schyman). Brev till Ledarsidan [Letter on Editorial Page], Expressen, Aug. 6, 2006, sec. 1, p. 1.
“Ge skadestånd till prostitutionens offer” [Give Damages to Victims of Prostitution]. (With MP Gudrun Schyman) Op-Ed, DN-debatt, Dagens Nyheter, July 25, 2006.
SELECTED MEDIA ACTIVITY
Mary Kate McGowan, Wellesley College, review of Pornography: The Politics of Legal Challenges, by Max Waltman. Ethics 133, no. 4 (July 2023), 653-658. https://doi.org/10.1086/724539.
Interviewed on “Nyhetsmorgon,” TV4, November 7, 2023, at 4.02 (Swedish prime-time TV News).
Interviewed by Tilde de Paula, “Efter Fem,” TV4, April 2, 2023, at 1.47.51–1.51.55 (Swedish prime-time TV News), https://perma.cc/FJ4H-FN4N (select “View the live page”).
Quoted/Cited by Elmer Gahrton, ”De polisanmäler porren,” Läget. May 2, 2023, https://perma.cc/Y5ZR-X2QU (Stockholm Univ. School of Journalism Newspaper).
Quoted/Cited by Yvonne Perkins, ”Det finns inget säkert sätt att strypa någon”, ETC Nyhetsmagasin, March 3, 2023, pp. 24–33.
Quoted/Cited by Yvonne Perkins, ”Från hjärna till underliv – så kan unga påverkas av porr”, ETC Nyhetsmagazin, March 3, 2023, pp. 20–23.
Interviewed by Anna Lindman, ”Hårt sex: ’Alla är på något sätt porrskadade.’”, SvT Uppdrag granskning [Swedish public service, prime-time investigative TV-journalism], March 1, 2023. https://perma.cc/77HS-85QK
Radio debate with Max Waltman, Ninja Thyberg, and Mariah Larsson, moderated by Lars Mogensen, produced by Thomas Lunderquist, ”Pornografi: fantasivärld eller filmat sexköp?,” Filosofiska rummet, Sveriges Radio P1, November 7, 2021.
Quoted/cited by Johanna Klöfvermark, ”Forskare: Porren triggar sexövergrepp” [Researcher: Pornography Triggers Sexual Assault] and ”C-kvinnorna: Reglera konsumtionen av porr” Dagens ETC [Daily Mid-Size Swedish Newspaper], Nov. 28, 2017 (print & online).
Quoted and cited by Sethembiso Promise Mthembu & Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge “When Buyers of Sex Pay the Legal Price, Everyone Wins,” Bhekisisa: Center for Health Journalism (via Mail & Guardian, Africa), July 24, 2017 [https://perma.cc/6PWC-CKZY].
Quoted and cited by Sarah Glazer in “Decriminalizing Prostitution,” Congressional Quarterly Researcher, April 15, 2016, 337–60 (CQ Researcher).
Quoted and cited by Hanna Sistek, “Amnesty & avkriminaliseringen”, Ottar, 16 mars, 2016 (no. 1), available at http://www.ottar.se/artiklar/amnesty-avkriminaliseringen.
Quoted and cited by Margaret Wente in “Sweden’s Prostitution Solution: Canada’s New Law has been Widely Derided as Unworkable and Reactionary. But in Scandinavia, Such Measures are Working,” Globe & Mail, March 17, 2015, p. A11.
Signed petition/op-ed: « Les élus français doivent se montrer à la hauteur dans la lutte contre la prostitution, » L’Humanité, Feb. 10, 2015, archived at http://perma.cc/ZV9S-GXWD.
Interviewed by Sara Steensig in “Prostitution in Sweden: Hell or Eden?,” GBtimes.com, Feb. 2, 2015 [http://perma.cc/KRH5-BQ22].
Translation of and comment on “Prohibiting Sex Purchasing and Ending Trafficking” on Haaretz’s online site (Israeli Newspaper).
TV-debate with Max Waltman, Pauline Arrighi, Gil Mihaely, and Cari Mitchell, moderated by François Picard, “Punish the Prostitute or Fine the Client?” France 24, Nov. 27, 2013 (link 1: http://www.france24.com/en/20131127-debate-punish-the-prostitute-fine-the-client-part-one; link 2: http://www.france24.com/en/20131127-debate-punish-the-prostitute-fine-the-client-part-two).
Interviewed in Red Light, Green Light, directed by Jared Brock and Michelle Brock (Toronto, Ontario: Hope Films, 2013), http://redlightgreenlightfilm.com/interviewees/
Interviewed by Ally Foster in “What’s Next for Canada’s Prostitution Laws?” Embassy: Canada’s Foreign Policy Newspaper, Jan. 23, 2013, pp. 10, 13.
Interviewed by Monica Karlstein in ”Strippklubbar förbjudna: nu ska nätporren stoppas,” Aftonbladet, 7 feb. 2013, p. 24 (tabloid press).
Interviewed by Birgit Schmid in «Warum Prostitution verboten werden muss», in Das Magazin, September 15-21, 2012, p. 23 (no. 37) (contemporary news analysis).
Cited and quoted in a feature article by Michelle Brook on Canadian NGO Hope For The Sold’s blog, commenting on Bedford v. Canada (A.G.), 2012 ONCA 186 (Ont. Ct of App.).
Quoted by di Luca Liverani in “Meno lucciole in strada e i trafficanti espatriano,” Avvenire [Italian Newspaper], 21 May, and quoted in La Voce di Rimini, May 22.
Interviewed by Emily Bazelon in “Why is Prostitution Illegal? The oldest question about the oldest profession,” Slate, March 10, 2008, www.slate.com/id/2186243/ (two pages).
PAST EVENT
Organizer of “Legal Challenges to Gender-Based Violence: An APSA Short Course sponsored by Law & Courts, Human Rights, and Women’s Politics Research’s sections.” Preconference workshop held at the annual meeting for the American Political Science Ass’n (APSA), Washington DC, September 1, 2010. Twenty two (22) scheduled presenters and interlocutors including Melissa Farley, Leslie Goldstein, Neil Malamuth, Wendy Murphy, and others.
FORSKNINGSPROJEKT (in Swedish):
Att möjliggöra för brottsoffren att tillvarata sina rättigheter under prostitutionslagstiftningen