Graeme Garrard, born in 1965, is a Canadian political theorist and author. He holds the position of emeritus Professor of Politics at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. Garrard's academic journey began in Canada, where he was born to British parents in Toronto. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Trinity College, Toronto, and later earned his DPhil degree in Political Thought from Balliol College, Oxford. His doctoral research, guided by prominent scholars Sir Larry Siedentop and Sir Isaiah Berlin, focused on the roles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Joseph de Maistre within the context of the Counter-Enlightenment.

Since 1994, Garrard has been teaching the history of political thought and political philosophy at Cardiff University. His academic career also includes visiting professorships at Dartmouth College and Williams College in the United States, and he served as an instructor for the Harvard Summer School's government program from 2006 to 2018. Additionally, he has held positions at The American University of Paris and was a visiting fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge. Garrard is recognized for his scholarly contributions, being a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, The Learned Society of Wales, and The Academy of Social Sciences. Prior to his academic career, he served as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy reserve.

Graeme Garrard's scholarly work centers on political theory and the history of political thought. His doctoral research delved into the complex relationship between Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Joseph de Maistre, exploring their positions within the broader intellectual movement known as the Counter-Enlightenment. This early focus suggests a sustained interest in thinkers who offered critiques or alternatives to the dominant ideas of the Enlightenment. His academic career at Cardiff University has been dedicated to teaching and researching these areas, contributing to a deeper understanding of how political ideas have evolved and shaped societies.

Garrard's published works engage with significant intellectual traditions and historical periods. His book, "Rousseau's Counter-Enlightenment," examines the republican critique of Enlightenment philosophers, while "Counter-Enlightenments" broadens this scope to explore the concept from the eighteenth century to the present day. These titles indicate a focus on intellectual movements that challenged prevailing philosophical and political orthodoxies. In "How to Think Politically," co-authored with James Murphy, he likely explores methodologies and historical examples of political reasoning. His most recent work, "The Return of the State," addresses contemporary political and societal structures, suggesting an ongoing engagement with the practical implications of political theory.