Prof. Max Cameron comments on rising tensions in the Brazilian election
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is making attempts on Brazilian democracy, and there are fears this trend could spread to other nations. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’re all watching this (election) closely”, says Prof. Cameron.
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. Xiaojun Li awarded SSHRC funding for project on intellectual humility and US-China relations
Over $70,000 in SSHRC funding has been awarded to Prof. Xiaojun Li for his project on media biases and disinformation, intellectual humility, and its influence on US-China perceptions, which will be investigated through a series of extensive surveys in both countries.
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.”
Prof. Lisa Sundstrom comments on apathy of Russian citizens in Ukraine war
Prof. Sundstrom says that although there is some support for the invasion of Ukraine in Russia, “people are just going about their lives … and if it doesn’t impact them directly, they don’t have to worry.” Although external pressure from Ukraine and the world continues to mount on Russia, internal opinions are not showing much change.
Prof. Kurt Hübner on new U.K. PM Liz Truss’ promises: “there are a manifold of challenges”
Prof. Kurt Hübner, in CTV News interview, discusses the numerous challenges facing the U.K.’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss, such as her mandate, political popularity, and U.K. economic issues.
Bangladeshi PM’s visit to India sends a “positive message,” says visiting Prof. Swaran Singh
Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming trip to India will be a highlight of the nations’ golden chapter, says visiting Prof. Singh. “These examples of the changing nature of their bilateral relations have lessons and implications for the larger region.”
Despite his recent successes, “for many, Biden is running out of time,” says Prof. Paul Quirk
The past week has been a major success for the Biden administration: taking down the leader of Al-Qaeda, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the bipartisan veterans bill, and other achievements. Still, “whether Biden’s legislative successes will help him or the Democrats politically is less clear,” Prof. Quirk notes.
Visiting Prof. Swaran Singh writes on the “strategic ambiguity” of the Biden-Xi relationship
Prof. Swaran Singh highlighted the implications of “enduring uncertainties and anxieties” between two of the world’s most powerful leaders, and the consequences of their glamorous personalities. “Short-term gains often dictate strategies of being active without being productive,” wrote Singh.