Prof. Lisa Sundstrom notes the impact of “ordinary Russians” in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Though she doesn’t blame Russian citizens for not expressing their discontent, Prof. Sundstrom is also coming to understand that the common Russians have continued to support the Russian regime and its actions despite alternative information sources available.
Pandemic and Putin turn UBC Political Science student into war correspondent
UBC Political Science student Anastasiia Lapatina has spent the last four months covering Russia’s invasion of her homeland, Ukraine, while studying political science full-time.
PhD Candidate Martina Zago receives SSHRC funding for project investigating historical European definitions of “civilization”
Martina’s dissertation explores European debates over civilization, barbarism, and savagery in relation to extra-European states and peoples during the age of ‘modern Orientalism,’ 1798-1945. She argues some of the most interesting meaning-makers in this context were visual artists who took to heart the task of defining and contesting the boundaries of what was then considered civilized, barbarous, and savage.
Prof. Allen Sens hopes Trudeau’s visit to Ukraine goes beyond the symbolic
Additional military equipment assistance, financial assistance for eventual reconstruction, negotiations for an end to the war, and possible declaration of Russian republics within Ukraine could have been at the top of Trudeau and Zelenskyy’s agenda, says Prof. Allen Sens. However, banning Russian oil is still a sticking point.
Prof. Allen Sens says that Victory Day could impact Russia’s next steps in the invasion of Ukraine
“Victory Day… had a large impact on the Soviet Union and still resonates very strongly today with may Russians,” says Professor Allen Sens. He explains how Victory Day could lead to Russia proclaiming either victory or escalation, and the impact of the West on this invasion.
Watch: Roland Paris present the 2022 Mark Zacher Distinguished Speaker Lecture
We were honoured to host Roland Paris as the 2022 Mark Zacher Distinguished Speaker last week. He presented a talk exploring the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what it means for the post-Cold War international order.
Scope Conditions Episode 2.7: Europe’s Hidden Legal Architects with Dr. Tommaso Pavone
Dr. Tommaso Pavone says that the real architects of EU ascendancy were a ragtag band of entrepreneurial lawyers who coaxed reluctant judges into referring cases up to the European Court of Justice – even to the point of writing the judges’ referrals for them.
Vladimir Putin, the czar of macho politics, is threatened by gender and sexuality rights
Putin’s regime has increasingly relied on very conventional gender and sexual norms. Prof. Lisa Sundstrom co-wrote about the connection between Russian president Vladimir Putin’s animosity toward Ukraine and gender and sexuality rights in Russia and around the world.
Dr. Alan Jacobs selected as new Department Head
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Alan Jacobs has been selected as the next Head of the Department of Political Science. Dr. Jacobs will serve as Department Head starting on July 1, 2022 for a three-year term.
Disrupted Order: G20 Global Governance at a Time of Geopolitical Crisis
Prof. Yves Tiberghien argue that leaders of major countries have increasingly engaged in cognitive dissonance: there is a fast-growing gap between their continued official support for G20 procedures and their
refusal to cooperate with each other.