Prof. Kathryn Harrison discusses Canadian climate politics under the Trudeau government
The current Trudeau government has been slow to act on environmental policy, despite the Prime Minister touting Canada as a leader in the fight against climate change. While this may be true, both Trudeau and Prof. Kathryn Harrison acknowledge that “[Canada’s] track record is not good.”
“Things hit this “crisis point” through a combination of factors,” says Prof. Max Cameron on the BC NDP’s disqualification of Anjali Appadurai
The recent disqualification of Anjali Appadurai from running for BC NDP leader has caused political commotion. In this interview, Prof. Max Cameron highlights that the party’s recent problems with engagement and membership don’t make the current situation any easier for the BC NDP.
David Eby is not an “obvious” retail politician, says Prof. Gerald Baier on the future BC premier’s rise to power
In the article on Eby’s history as an advocate and politician, Prof. Baier commented further on how Eby’s characteristics and public personality, though “cerebral” at times, will help him connect with BC residents.
Prof. Gerald Baier quoted in article on David Eby becoming BC premier with disqualification of Anjali Appadurai
“They had a process that they totally lost control of,” says Prof. Gerald Baier on Anjali Appadurai’s campaign for NDP leader, “which never looks good.” Despite Appadurai and her supporters’ plans to fight back after being disqualified due to unauthorized collaboration with third parties, David Eby is on track to become the next BC premier.
Watch: BC Votes Municipal Election Panel
On October 18, a panel of UBC Political Science faculty and alumni broke down the results of the province’s municipal elections and their consequences for future policy and the future of local government.
Prof. Gerald Baier on Ken Sim and other mayors failing to deliver on campaign promises: “it’s a caution for new mayors”
“I think mayors will run into the challenge that is governing at the local level, (namely) the limits of one’s jurisdiction as mayor or even as a council to fix some of the problems that we generally think of as local problems,” says Prof. Baier in his interview, also commenting on the effectiveness and repulsiveness of certain election issues.
Sessional Call for Applicants (2022W2 and 2023S)
The Department of Political Science invites applications to teach in Winter Session Term 2 (Jan-April 2023) and Summer Sessions (May-June, July-August 2023).
PhD graduate Alex Rivard investigates the successes of separatist parties in Western democracies
Titled A House but not a Home: The Determinants of Secessionist Party Emergence and Support in North America and Western Europe, UBC Political Science PhD graduate Alex Rivard’s dissertation delves into the emergence and success of separatist parties in Western democracies from an empirical perspective.
Prof. Gerald Baier discusses increase of challengers in upcoming Vancouver and Surrey elections
With more and more parties and candidates on the ballots, Prof. Gerald Baier predicts that this should actually favour the incumbent McCallum due to vote-splitting.
Prof. Maxwell Cameron calls for return of civility and nonpartisanship to politics
Though Prof. Cameron has observed politicians being passionate about serving their constituents, he also notes their at-times “hyper-partisan, adversarial and uncivil behaviours.” Through facilitated reflective discussions, he hopes to solve this issue. “If politicians value civility,” Prof. Cameron writes, “they must learn to model it.”