Department News

On January 12th, 2019, Esam Salahaldeen Abdullah Al-Mohamadi arrived in Canada for the first time. It was the start of his journey as an international student at Simon Fraser University, studying political science.

Professor Andy Hira recently penned an article on The Conversation, which gives a brief overview of the challenges associated with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and its impact on the slow transition to clean energy.

Professor Howlett is the recipient of the 2023 Award for Excellence in Research from The Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA).

Professor Genevieve Fuji Johnson has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis Grant of more than $27K for her project, “Criminalization as a Compounding Contributor to Gender-based Violence Against Trans, Non-Binary, and/or Racialized Sex Workers.”

Over the past decade, the provincial government has claimed liquified natural gas would bring BC a bonanza. A new paper by SFU’s Clean Energy Research Group points to the economic, financial, and environmental reasons to end government support.

Discover how responsible government began in Nova Scotia 175 years ago today.

Dr. Antje Jantsch will be joining the Department of Political Science as a visiting scholar to work with Professor Steven Weldon.

Professor Anthony Perl spoke to Piya Chattopadhyay of CBC's The Sunday Magazine about the holiday mayhem that many experienced as they tried to travel during December 2022. He emphasized that we need to develop a transportation system that can deal with such events on a regular basis.

The Department of Political Science congratulates Professor Patrick Smith on his retirement and thanks him for his 40 years of service to SFU.

SFU’s Department of Political Science celebrates the achievements of Nisha Manhas who has won the 2022 Gunraj Gill Memorial Award in Political Science.

More than 12 years ago, Chanel Joncas began her post-secondary journey. This fall, she ultimately realizing her dream of getting a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Dr. Elis Vllasi has received a Targeted Engagement Grant from the Department of National Defence’s MINDS Initiative for his Hybrid Warfare Student Challenge (HyWSC).

Congratulations to Timothy van den Brink who has received a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. This funding makes it possible for him to focus full-time on his research into language politics in Canada.

Professor Anil (Andy) Hira says that B.C. needs to prepare for a massive influx of electricity demand in seven to ten years by investing in clean energy projects now.

Port Coquitlam MLA and SFU alumnus Mike Farnworth spoke to our POL 121 class about how became involved in politics and shared what he's learned over the years.

SFU Political Science congratulates Jiven Lal and Tanya Kuriyedath, whose exceptional academic achievements have won them 2022 undergraduate awards.

On June 23rd, 2022, Dr. Stewart Prest spoke to Radio NL about the purpose and effectiveness of protests.

The Department of Political Science celebrates the achievement of PhD student Megan Mattes who has received a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship of $20,000 per year for four years.

Watch a video of the April 25th panel discussion on the Global Impact of the War in Ukraine.

The Department of Political Science congratulates its honours students, who presented their thesis presentations on April 13th, 2022.

The Social Data Analytics program held its main launch event featuring Prof. Anabel Quan-Haase on April 11th, 2022. SDA student Rachel Way blogged about the informative lecture.

Congratulations to Professor Andy Hira, who has been named third visiting professor to Global Affairs Canada!

Alumnus Brady Yano (Political Science,’16) has earned a spot as a 2022 McCall MacBain Scholar at McGill University where he will begin his MA degree in Urban Planning this September.

Register for our summer 2022 classes. We have courses in everything from science, policy, and innovation to public policy analysis, and much more.

The Social Data Analytics program is pleased to present its final lecturer, Professor Anabel Quan-Haase, in its 2022 speaker series.

Professor Laurel Weldon discussed the history and future of International Women's Day with CBC Radio (On the Coast) on March 8th, 2022.

Elis Vllasi spoke to Radio NL about why Russia has targeted certain areas of Ukraine in its invasion.

Elis Vllasi discusses Russia's attack on Ukraine in an interview 980 CKNW.

Congratulations to SFU Political Science PhD student Timothy van den Brink who recently had his article, "COVID-19 in Canada through the Eyes of Right-Wing Intellectuals," published in the American Review of Canadian Studies.

Professor Andy Hira reflects on the January 6th, 2021 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

Professor Alexander Moens discusses NATO’s new strategic concept, the history of that policy document, why it matters, what we can expect to see in further updates to NATO’s strategic concept, and whether Canada should play a more active role in shaping that framework.

Check out our spring courses and learn something amazing in 2022!

The Department of Political Science congratulates Professor Andy Hira who recently won best paper from the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association at their November conference.

Stewart Prest spoke to 980 CKNW about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's holiday on Canada's first Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Congratulations to Violeta Dima whose hard work and dedication has won her a FASS employee achievement award for teaching assistant/tutor marker.

Stewart Prest speaks to CTV's Ben Mulroney about the results of the 2021 federal election.

Sanjay Jeram discusses how important economic issues, values, and more are to voters in the 2021 federal election.

In a radio interview with 770 CHQR, Dr. Stewart Prest discusses the issue of climate change and why it is important to Canadians in the 2021 federal election.

Check out the wide variety of classes you can take this September.

After completing three co-op work terms, Helen Sofia Pahou has developed practical skills and gained knowledge that will be invaluable to her in her future career.

The Department of Political Science congratulates Professor Mark Pickup on his SSHRC Insight Grant for his project, "Political Identity Norms, Trendsetters and their Influence on Political Polarization."

The Department of Political Science welcomes Dr. Radoslav Dimitrov as its new associate professor.

Sanjay Jeram speaks to CBC Radio One about childcare in B.C. and Jody Wilson-Raybould.

The Department of Political Science recognizes the achievements of Kirat Gill, Maja Lampa, and Jean-Luc Periera who have all received 2021 undergraduate awards.

Anti-racism activist. Politician. And now, SFU graduate. Read about Trystan Jones' convocation journey.

Anya Sass, winner of the Governor General's Medal for Inclusion, Democracy, and Reconciliation, graduates with a BA in GSWS and political science this month.

The Department of Political Science remembers Fang Quei Quo, professor emeritus, who passed away on March 26th, 2021 at the age of 88.

Stewart Prest gives insight into the impact of COVID-19 on civil liberties, municipal politics and more. Read and listen to his interviews here.

SFU Political Science welcomes Brian Chand as its new undergraduate advisor and recruiter.

The Department of Political Science has recently updated its internal policy regarding SFU’s Elective Grade Policy.

Solutions to how countries can mitigate the security risks of climate change have earned SFU students international recognition at the inaugural NATO policy hackathon.

Professor Aude-Claire Fourot and her colleagues, Aisling Healy and Anouk Flamant, examine the role of transnational city networks on immigration policy in France.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Theodore (Ted) H. Cohn, professor emeritus of SFU’s political science department, on January 27th, 2021.

Professor Aude-Claire Fourot has just published some exciting new research focusing on municipalities, francophone minority communities, and immigration in Canada.

Political Science undergrad Yash Tasouji discusses the research he will present at the HCURA 2021 National Collegiate Research Conference.

Read media interviews with Professor Andy Hira about the January 6, 2021 siege on the U.S. Capitol building.

Stewart Prest spoke to CTV News Channel about leading political figures engaging in non-essential travel during COVID-19. Listen to the whole interview here.

Inspiring student profile story about Rochelle Prasad and the value of volunteerism.

Seven Simon Fraser University scholars have been named to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), including two political science professors, Michael Howlett and Laurel Weldon.

On August 12th, SFU students joined a Zoom panel event to hear about FASS' new social data analytics (SDA) minor.

Stewart Prest speaks to CTV News about expectations ahead of the September 23, 2020 federal government throne speech.

Congratulations to Professor David Laycock on his retirement

Sanjay Jeram explains why Erin O'Toole's 2020 Conservative leadership win is not a surprise.

Media interviews with Sanjay Jeram and Stewart Prest about the WE Charity Scandal

Prof Andy Hira shares insights from his 2019 book, "The Great Disruption: Understanding the Populist Forces Behind Trump, Brexit, and LePen", in "The Conversation".

Professor Anthony Perl's media interviews about the future of transportation

Sanjay Jeram's interviews about the COVID-19 crisis are available here.

Professor Andy Hira notes that companies that practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) could ensure more positive outcomes by tackling “real change on the ground” rather than focusing on single projects and budgets.

Lulu Li and health sciences graduate students won the 2020 Student Evaluation Case Competition (SECC) on June 15, 2020.

Professor Alexander Moens discusses the role of NATO in global politics.

The Department of Political Science celebrates its spring and summer 2020 undergraduate award winners who have received The Pauline Jewett Scholarship, The Rama Reddy Scholarship and The Robert Stanfield Book Prize.

Stewart Prest discusses The Detention of Canadians in China with CTV News Channel on June 21, 2020.

Our faculty members regularly produce world-class research in a number of political science sub-disciplines. Read more about just a few projects that have made headlines recently.

Sanjana Ramesh came to SFU to work on human rights issues centered around gender and sexuality. Now she graduates with her master’s in political science, having contributed to the discourse on LGBTQIA+ rights.

David Henigman has worked hard to complete his political science major and law and philosophy minor, plus certificate in ethics and global justice.

The Department of Political Science congratulates you on your Simon Fraser University graduation. Although we cannot celebrate with you in person, we want to let you know how proud we are of your achievements.

The CDSN COVID Response Recommendations and Future Directions - Department of Political Science Chair Alex Moens is co-director in this SSHRC-funded partnership and PhD candidate Alexandra Richards is a regular researcher.

Professor Aude-Claire Fourot has won a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Grant and Partnership Engage Grant.

Kate Olivares is an exceptional political science student, whose latest accomplishment was acceptance into the B.C. Legislative Internship Program for 2021. Read her story here.

Congratulations to students from across the university and especially across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) who took home top honours in the 3rd Annual 2019 Student Learning Commons (SLC) Writing Contest!

The Department of Political Science congratulates Sanjay Jeram and Stewart Prest who received 2019 President's Media Newsmaker Awards.

SFU political science professor S. Laurel Weldon has studied the impact of women’s movements around the globe and finds they have advanced women’s economic empowerment.

Professor Alan Jacobs (UBC) will be presenting a free talk, "Whose News? Class-biased Economic Reporting in the United States".

Marina Bishara will soon graduate from SFU. In her last year as a political science major (Honours) with an extended minor in French, she’s reflecting on her experience at university and beyond.

The final information sessions for the 2020 NATO Field School and Simulation Program will be on January 14, 2020.

SFU political science alumnus Michael Thorburn has been chosen as one of 145 Schwarzman Scholars to complete a fully-funded, one-year master's degree at Beijing's Tsinghua University.

Several of our NATO Field School students never expected that they would spend the summer in Kosovo, in addition to the NATO Field School sites.

In 2017, Maja Lampa made a long journey. She left Hong Kong, where she had been studying since 2015, and came to Simon Fraser University. Lampa chose to do her degree at SFU because she was looking for a sense of community.

Simon Fraser University PhD alumnus and former instructor Nancy Teeple is heading to Vermont in January to take up the Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Peace and War Studies at Norwich University.

Professor Rémi Léger was part of the organizing committee at The Symposium on the Francophonie in British Columbia that took place at SFU Burnaby on October 4th and 5th.

Cory Henderson graduated from the French Cohort Program in Summer 2019 with a major in political science (Honours) and an extended minor in French. She is currently completing her Master's in political science. Read about her academic journey at SFU.

Natasha Mhuriro didn’t plan on majoring in political science when she began her studies at Simon Fraser University. She started her academic life with a double major in business administration and economics. However, she realized that her passion for female empowerment and community service wouldn’t be fulfilled if she continued on her current path.

"The Great Disruption: Understanding the Populist Forces Behind Trump, Brexit, and LePen" aims to put the shocking events of 2016–17 into a long-term, historical perspective.

"Radical Democracy and Its Limits", recently published by Palgrave Macmillan, is the first book from David Matijasevich, an instructor in the Department of Political Science at Simon Fraser University.

MA student Harleen Atwal received the Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award for her service to Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Moens launches a new project to integrate experiential learning and field work into graduate education in political science.