In partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Center for the Study of Canada at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, Fulbright Canada is pleased to announce the fourth in our Canada Colloquium series. These scholarly colloquia address critical contemporary social, political, and economic issues relevant to Canada, the United States, and the international community.

This iteration of the colloquium, Contemporary Challenges to Democracy and Democratic Institutions, will commence with the authors’ workshop, designed to produce an edited volume, on campus on October 26th-27th. The colloquium will close with an open town hall meeting that includes students, professionals, officials, and the interested public, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on the evening of October 27th.

Liberal democracy currently faces increasingly complex challenges both at home in North America and abroad. Social, ideological, economic, and racial divisions have heightened political and cultural polarization. Gaps are widening between people and power, and internal and external authoritarian movements directly challenge the nature of democratic societies. Our 2023 colloquium examines various issues relating to the contemporary challenges to democracy and democratic institutions.

These challenges include, but are not limited to, political polarization, threats to multi-ethnic democracies, economic inequality, the growing maldistribution of wealth and income, democratic backsliding, and the rise of populism. The colloquium organizers are especially interested in whether creative institutional reform can address some of these challenges. We are particularly interested in how these challenges affect Canada and the United States while, at the same time, recognizing the importance of critical comparative analysis.

Academic Contributions
  1. Food Security and Democratic Backsliding in sub-Saharan Africa: Long, Alia and Anderson
    • Anderson, C. Leigh, PhD, Economics, University of Washington
    • Didier Y. Alia, PhD, Agricultural Economics, University of Washington
    • James D. Long, PhD, Political Science, University of Washington
    • Sameer H. Shah, PhD, Environmental Social Science, University of Washington
  2. Populism in Canada: Elite Rhetoric and the 2022 Freedom Convoy
    • Bohonos, Danielle, PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Toronto
  3. How Indigenous Viewpoints in Social Discourse Strengthen Pluralism
    • Coleman, Cynthia-Lou, PhD, Journalism and Mass Communication, Portland State University
    • Martin Budak, MS, Portland State University
    • Benjamin Nguyen, BS, Portland State University
    • Luke Hanst, MS, Portland State University
  4. Populism is Not the Problem: The Nationalist Roots of Authoritarianism
    • Deese, Richard Samuel, PhD, History, Boston University
  5. Centralization of Power in the Head of State: A Comparative Perspective on Autocracy
    • Driesen, David M., J.D., University Professor, College of Law, Syracuse University
  6. Healing U.S. Democracy without Rekindling the “American Dream.” Mission: Impossible?
    • Gagnon, Frédérick, PhD, Political Science, University of Québec in Montreal
  7. Free, Prior, Informed and Continued Consent: A conceptual framework to bridge policy to practice
    • Giang, Vivian, PhD Candidate, Anthropology & Engineering, University of Alberta
    • Hopkins, J. Uluwehi, PhD, History, University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu
    • Palmer, Andie, PhD, Anthropology, University of Alberta
    • Lefsrud, Lianne, PhD, Engineering, University of Alberta
  8. Democracy and War: The Incapacity of Congress and Parliament to Declare War
    • Hallett, Brien, PhD, Political Science, UH Manoa, Institute of Peace
  9. Institutions and Communities of Transformation: Facing Capacious Issues and Educating for Democracy
    • Hasager, Ulla, PhD, Anthropology, Director of Civic Engagement for College of Social Sciences, UH Mānoa
  10. The Joint Effort by Canada and the United States to Build a Democracy in Afghanistan: Lessons Learned for Future Cooperation in Democratic Nation-Building
    • Holland, Kenneth, PhD, O.P. Jindal Global University, India; and
    • Julie Holland, Ed.D., American University of Afghanistan (former)
  11. The Shifting Center of Democracy: Countervailing Institutions Outside the State
    • Hudson, Alexander, PhD, et al, International IDEA, Sweden
  12. Comparing Foreign Election Interference: strategic containment of foreign influence activities across the Five Eyes security community
    • Leuprecht, Christian, PhD, Political Science, Royal Military College and Queen’s University
    • Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College and Queen’s University
    • Gabby Glasier, MA Candidate, Political Science, Queen’s University
  13. Artificial Intelligence and Regulatory Responses to a Possible Future for Elections
    • Longo, Justin, PhD, Public Policy, University of Regina
  14. Countering polarization in development policy dialogues and research by promoting the inclusion of developing country scholars
    • Mariara, Jane, PhD, Economics, Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), Kenya
  15. Assessing the American Democratic Malaise
    • Martin, Pierre, PhD, Political Science, Université de Montréal
  16. The Great Exaggeration: America’s Enduring Democracy
    • McMahon, Kevin J., PhD, Political Science, Trinity College
  17. Divisive but Effective: How Populists have Outperformed Expectations though effective Policy Delivery and how their Opponents can respond
    • Meyer, Brett, PhD, Political Science, Senior Policy Advisor the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, UK
  18. Addressing the Democratic Climate Deficit
    • O’Brien, Robert, PhD, Political Science, McMaster University
  19. Arming the Masses for Misinformation: Artificial Intelligence, User-Generated Deepfakes, and the Next Frontier in Voter Manipulation in Canada
    • Omorogbe, Phil, JD, Law, ENGR Solutions (AI Consulting Agency)
  20. Newspapers Aren't Coming Back: The Search for Small-Town Journalistic Successors
    • Oppegaard, Brett, School of Communication and Information, UH Mānoa
    • Rados, Krista, Digital Journalist and Producer, Hawaiʻi Public Radio
  21. Is Globalization Guilty? Cognitive Biases and the Rise of Populism in Canada and the United States
    • Paquin, Stéphane, PhD, Political Science, ENAP
  22. The renegotiation of the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States: towards a more orderly system?
    • Plouffe-Malette, Kristine, LL.D., Faculty of Law, Université of Sherbrooke
  23. Climate, Covid-19, and Western Canada’s Populist Challenge to Canadian Democracy
    • Young, Lisa, PhD, Political Science, University of Calgary; and
    • Loleen Berdahl, PhD, Political Science, University of Saskatchewan and ED of the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Jane Mariara

Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Policy, Nairobi

Prof. Jane Mariara is the Executive Director (ED) of the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) and is responsible for institutional development, fundraising and long-term sustainability, and delivery of all of PEP’s commitments. Since taking on the role of ED in 2016, Jane has been instrumental in strengthening and diversifying both PEP’s engagement with donors and partner organisations worldwide, as well as PEP’s service offering. Jane extends the extensive global experience in policy research analysis to the Central Bank of Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee. Jane has previously held several senior positions at the University of Nairobi, with the most recent as a full professor of Economics and the Director of the School Economics. Overall, she has over 30 years’ experience in teaching, research and management. Jane has also held numerous advisory roles in local, regional and international academic circles. Currently, she is a member of the Innovations for Poverty Action Board of Directors, the President of the African Society of Ecological Economists (ASEE), and a member of the Club of Rome’s Earth4All 21st Century Transformational Economics Commission. She is an integral member of the international scientific community and a thought-leader in development economics, having authored multiple journal papers, books, monographs, policy briefs, working papers and mimeos.

Jane holds a PhD, MA, and BA degrees in Economics from the University of Nairobi

Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor

Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies, UH Mānoa

Professor McGregor is founding member of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, is a historian of Hawai’i and the Pacific. Her PhD in Hawaiian and Pacific History was completed at the University of HawaiʻI, Mānoa in 1989. Her ongoing research endeavors document the persistence of traditional Hawaiian cultural customs, beliefs, and practices in rural Hawaiian communities, including the island of Moloka’i; the districts of Puna and Ka’u on Hawai’i; Ke’anae-Wailuanui on Maui and Waiahole-Waikane on O’ahu. This work is featured in her 2007 UH Press book, Kua’aina: Living Hawaiian Culture which won the Kenneth W. Balridge Prize for best book in any field of history written by a resident of Hawai’i from 2005-2007.

Pōmaikaʻi is conducting research on the original Native Hawaiians who lived in Kalaupapa, Kalawao, Makanalua and Waikolu before it was designated as a place to isolate HawaiʻI residents who contracted leprosy. She is part of a team working on the designation and implementation of the Moʻomomi Northwest Coast of Molokaʻi as Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA). As a member of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, she helps to steward the island of Kanaloa Kahoʻolawe. She helps to coordinate huakaʻi or cultural field trips for students, faculty and community members to engage in cultural and spiritual practices to heal the island and honor it as a sacred center for learning and mastery of Native Hawaiian cultural beliefs, customs and practices.

Rana Sarkar

Consul General of Canada in San Francisco, United States

Mr. Rana Sarkar was appointed as Consul General of Canada in San Francisco | Silicon Valley in 2017, with accreditation for Northern California and Hawaii. He is also a member of Canada’s NAFTA Advisory Council.

Mr. Sarkar previously served as National Director for High Growth Markets at KPMG Canada, and co-chairman of the advisory board at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. From 2009 - 2013, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada-India Business Council.

In 2005, Mr. Sarkar co-founded Content Partners, a global content agency (sold in 2009), and, in 2001, the advisory firm Rawlings Atlantic Limited. He began his career as a consultant at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in London and Munich and helped establish Roland Berger in India. He also served as a visiting lecturer at the London School of Economics and the CASS Business School at the University of London.

He attended the London School of Economics, Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, and the INSEAD Executive Program in France. He is a member of the advisory council of Canada2020 and a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. Mr. Sarkar is married to lawyer and author Reva Seth. They live in San Francisco with their three children and oversized labradoodle.

Confronting Terror in Canada and the United States: Domestic and International Dimensions (2016)

In 2016, the Canada Colloquia Series, a series of international scholarly colloquia, was established by Fulbright Canada, SUNY Plattsburgh, and the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. The inaugural colloquium, Confronting Terror in Canada and the United States: Domestic and International Dimensions was held from February 24 to 26, 2016. Experts came together to comprehensively examine and evaluate North America’s response to domestic and international challenges posed by increasing incidents of violent extremism.

The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA) graciously hosted an event at Shangri-La, the home of Doris Duke. Shangri La houses an extensive collection of Islamic art. It is open for public tours and serves as a place for learning about Islamic arts and cultures, offering guided tours, residencies for scholars and artists, and programs for the purpose of improving understanding of the Islamic world.

View the Full Program.

CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND THE NEW TRADE REALITY (2017)

In partnership with SUNY Plattsburgh and the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, Fulbright Canada brought Canadian and American thought-leaders together. From February 20 to February 25, 2017, scholars and policy leaders met at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa to discuss an important and timely subject for Canada – navigating the future of trade and international economic cooperation between Canada and the United States. The future of multilateral trade, the U.S. administration’s policy, and the corresponding impact on Canada were of focus.

Events included, among others:

  • An opening reception attended by the Governor of Hawaii, David Ige; the Consul General of Canada to San Francisco, Brandon Lee; the Dean of the College of Social Sciences at the UH Mānoa, Denis Eby Konan; and, President of UH Mānoa, David Lassner.
  • A public Lecture, “Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples,” by Gerard Duhaime, Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chair at UH Mānoa.
  • Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO Fulbright Canada, and Chris Kirkey, Director of Center for the Study of Canada and Institute on Quebec Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh, presented a seminar on their book, Canadian Foreign Policy in a Unipolar World (Oxford University Press, 2016).

View the Full Program.

Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Peoples: Sovereignty, Sustainability, and Reconciliation (2018)

In 2018, Fulbright Canada, the Center for the Study of Canada at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, and the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa were pleased to present the third annual Canada Colloquium. Bringing together scholars, researchers, university administrators, youth leaders, and community leaders, the 2018 program explored significant and complex issues surrounding sovereignty, sustainability, rights, and reconciliation for indigenous peoples, with special reference to indigenous persons in Hawai‘i, in the United States more broadly, and in Canada.

We were pleased that distinct indigenous communities were represented and indigenous leaders from Hawai‘i participated, allowing for a more fulsome, nuanced, and constructive discussion. Further, youth engagement played a key part, as a number of young leaders participated in a parallel youth leadership program hosted at the Kohala Institute.

In addition to core support from our respective organizations, we were grateful to Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco for their generous support of the Canada Colloquium 2018. We would also like to thank the Kohala Institute, the United States Department of State, and the Killam Fellowship Program for their generous support of the Youth Leadership Program.

View the Full Program.

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