Two studies by U of T political scientists suggest shift in Canadians' attitude to war
June 7, 2010
War casualties in Afghanistan could actually boost support for the mission and the federal Conservative government, two new academic studies reveal. In fact, the image of flag-draped coffins — long seen as a potential political liability for any government — could make Canadians more hawkish about the Afghan war in general and less likely to […]
John Kirton and his summit scholars gear up for G20
June 5, 2010
The first picture you see on John Kirton’s office wall is a small reminder of how much the world has changed in two decades of watching G8 summits. In it, the curly haired political science professor is shaking hands with former Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kirton has just helped him pull off the 2006 G8 […]
Former student Kristin Good wins 2010 Donald Smiley Prize
June 4, 2010
Kristin Good has won the 2010 Donald Smiley Prize for her book, Municipalities and Multiculturalism: The Politics of Immigration in Toronto and Vancouver. In the words of the prize jury, “This book will contribute to the renewal of urban policy studies in Canada. By combining a critical questioning of multiculturalism with an in-depth examination of […]
Judith Teichman suggests decriminalizing drugs would curb violence in Mexico
May 27, 2010
Where else in the world do they have a single noun to denote a man who turns up dead in the trunk of a car? In northern Mexico, they call the wretch un encajuelado, and the phenomenon has become a sufficiently frequent feature of the local landscape that it merits a word all its own. […]
Let them stay, Joseph Carens says about illegal immigrants
May 27, 2010
For most unlawful acts, we can all pretty much agree about the egregiousness of the offense: Murder is worse than burglary is worse than parking violations. But when it comes to illegal immigration, that consensus breaks down dramatically. As undocumented immigrants and their supporters see it, these residents are doing what any of us would […]
Kiran Banerjee Wins Canada's Most Prestigious PhD Award
May 19, 2010
PhD student, Kiran Banerjee, has won the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Canada’s most prestigious scholarship for doctoral students. The award recognizes students in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health sciences who have demonstrated leadership skills and high standards of scholarly achievement in their graduate studies. The award is worth $50,000 […]
Louis Pauly describes how the IMF found the "sweet spot"
May 18, 2010
He’s been called a grand seducteur, a president in waiting, and Mr. Euro. But now Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the suave, French-born head of the International Monetary Fund, has the whole world in his manicured hands, catching the plummeting Greek economy in free fall, while stroking wealthier countries who fear a knock at their door for handouts […]
The future looks bright for Prof. Janice Stein
May 18, 2010
Since her arrival at the University of Toronto nearly three decades ago, political scientist Janice Stein has done much to make her mark on campus and on the city beyond. The tiny scholar with the big red glasses has schooled thousands of first-year students on the basics of international relations, authored books and articles and […]
Canadian Political Science Association shortlists work by U of T political scientists
May 5, 2010
An article by Professor Sylvia Bashevkin and a book by Kristin Good have been shortlisted for prizes by the Canadian Political Science Association.
Nelson Wiseman worries that Parliament is being downgraded
May 5, 2010
The Harper Conservatives didn’t start the demolition of Parliament, but they have taken it to a whole new level. The question facing Canadians now is whether Commons Speaker Peter Milliken’s historic ruling last Tuesday is too late to save the furniture.