Department of Political Science

Graduate students to engage with lawyers, political economists and theorists at SSHRC-funded workshop

Some of the top Canadian and international lawyers, political economists, social and development theorists will meet with graduate students this week to analyze and debate the “new constitutionalism”, a central characteristic of the global political economy. It’s another way York students are being given opportunities to engage with the wider community, says York Distinguished Research Professor Stephen […]

Professor Thomas Klassen heads to Korea to research and mobilize new labour force policies

Thomas Klassen, a professor in the Department of Political Science and the School of Public Policy & Administration in the Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies, has been invited to South Korea to be a visiting researcher. Right: Thomas Klassen The Korea Labor Institute has asked Klassen to conduct research on new policies for Korea’s labour force […]

Professors Drummond and MacDermid comment on Liberal Ken Dryden's defeat in York Centre

After three terms in office, hockey legend Ken Dryden couldn't save his seat in York Centre on Monday, giving up a riding the Liberals have safely held for almost half a century, wrote The Canadian Press May 3 (via The Record.com): Considered one of the most vulnerable Liberal incumbents heading into the federal election, Dryden […]

Professor Robert MacDermid shares last-minute insight on interpreting polls

Elections Canada requires the publishers of public opinion surveys during elections to publish some facts about the methodology, so readers can gauge how reliable the poll is, wrote Global Television News online April 28: Anyone transmitting the results of a poll has to include the name of the sponsor and the company that did the […]

Professor David Dewitt appointed vice-president of programs at CIGI

David Dewitt, associate vice-president research (social sciences & humanities) and a professor of political science in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will be taking a leave of absence from York University to become the vice-president of programs at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). His new position commences July 1. Left: […]

Professor Robert Drummond gives politicans how-to guide for connecting with averages joes

Is having an ordinary-guy, awshucks image really that important when it comes to an election race? wrote the Toronto Sun April 3: A York University political science prof says it's hit or miss. "Populism is an overused term," said Robert Drummond. "It means having ordinary people making decisions rather than experts – it's appealing, but […]

Professor Saeed Rahnema among distinguished thinkers speaking today on the Middle East

The revolutions in the Middle East have, in their wake, left countries struggling with how to reassert relations with regimes that are in transition. This afternoon, from 2 to 4pm at the Vivian & David Campbell Conference Centre at the Munk School at the University of Toronto, York political science Professor Saeed Rahnema (right) will […]

Professor and CRC Leo Panitch on renewed interest in Karl Marx

With the West suffering from the after-effects of the financial crisis and revolution in the air in parts of the world, could it possibly be springtime for Marx? wrote The Globe and Mail March 26: "I'm optimistic about the explosion that's happened in Wisconsin," says Leo Panitch, a political science professor at York University [Faculty […]

Professor Ananya Mukherjee-Reed's study lauds women's collective farming

Groups of women taking up collective farming in the state under Kudumbasree caught the imagination of Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, professor of political science and development studies at York University in Toronto [Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies], wrote India’s The Hindu March 11: It is by far the best method to ensure food security, especially […]

CRC Leo Panitch: Toronto needs objective analysis of garbage privatization proposal

Now that the garbage has hit the fan again in Toronto, so to speak, it would have been nice to have seen some serious investigative journalism before an editorial rushing to endorse privatization, wrote Leo Panitch, Canada Research Chair in Comparative Political Economy and Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science in York’s Faculty of Liberal […]