Politics – Views & Research – The Conversation

Your generosity funds factual, not fictional, politics coverage

I’d like to help

A police cruiser with the slogan 'deeds not words

A police cruiser with the slogan 'deeds not words

Police scandals are symptomatic of much larger issues

Tandeep Sidhu, University of Manitoba

As Canada modernizes Senate appointments, it can also broaden how it understands Black representation

Sheri Adekola, University of Guelph

A Black woman sings in the Senate chamber as senators look on.

A Black woman sings in the Senate chamber as senators look on.

The U.S. narrowly upheld birthright citizenship. What about Canada?

Allison J. Petrozziello, Toronto Metropolitan University and Megan Gaucher, Carleton University

A black mother holds her baby's hand

A black mother holds her baby's hand

Canada’s proposed clean water act needs stronger protections for Indigenous communities

Kerry Black, University of Calgary; Irving Leblanc; Kathleen Padulo, and Linda Debassige

a person carries a placard reading water is a human right

a person carries a placard reading water is a human right

New provincial laws are making it harder to access government records in Canada

Kevin Walby, University of Winnipeg and Raina DeGroot, University of Manitoba

The Canadian flag blows on top of a building with a cone-shaped, patinaed roof

The Canadian flag blows on top of a building with a cone-shaped, patinaed roof

Renewed NATO co-operation and defence spending are about strategy, not obeying Trump

James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University

A rotund, sleepy-looking older man in a baggy suit and shaggy orange-ish white hair.

A rotund, sleepy-looking older man in a baggy suit and shaggy orange-ish white hair.

Democracy from the front lines: How Taiwan and the Taiwanese diaspora combat global isolation

Hokbi Tiunn, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Taiwanese protesters hold the flags of Taiwan and the U.S.

Taiwanese protesters hold the flags of Taiwan and the U.S.

Russia’s nuclear strategy in Ukraine isn’t deterrence – it’s terror

Svitlana Matviyenko, Simon Fraser University

A blonde woman with tears in her eyes carries a cat out of destroyed apartment building.

A blonde woman with tears in her eyes carries a cat out of destroyed apartment building.

How Trump’s call to FIFA tested the limits of rules-based order

Taylor McKee, Brock University

An old white man in a suit speaks from behind a podium with the US President seal on it

An old white man in a suit speaks from behind a podium with the US President seal on it

Smokestacks seen across water with boats on it.

Smokestacks seen across water with boats on it.

Aboriginal title and land ownership is suddenly a hot topic in Canada — and won’t be settled anytime soon

Daniel Sims, University of Northern British Columbia

Stéphane Dion: The case for unified and effective Canadian science diplomacy

Stéphane Dion, Université de Montréal

Stéphane Dion standing at the microphone, with a Canadian flag in the background

Stéphane Dion standing at the microphone, with a Canadian flag in the background

Broken immigration promises are based on false narratives

Asma Atique, Toronto Metropolitan University and Deepa Nagari, Toronto Metropolitan University

A row of university students sits in a grassy urban area.

A row of university students sits in a grassy urban area.

Canada’s AI strategy must reckon with the environmental implications of data centres

Sibo Chen, Toronto Metropolitan University

a middle aged white man in a suit speaking at a podium in front on a red background

a middle aged white man in a suit speaking at a podium in front on a red background

Canada gave Ukrainians safety, but building a future was harder

Marika Jeziorek, Balsillie School of International Affairs

Children dance on a stage with a Ukrainian flag in the background. Two are holding small Ukrainian flags.

Children dance on a stage with a Ukrainian flag in the background. Two are holding small Ukrainian flags.

People photographed from the waist down at a citizenship ceremony, one child holding a small canadian flag.

People photographed from the waist down at a citizenship ceremony, one child holding a small canadian flag.

Canada’s multicultural success story is built on class inequalities, not just cultural differences

Aryan Karimi, University of British Columbia; Sophie Xiaoyi Liu, University of British Columbia, and Thomas Kemple, University of British Columbia

The Montréal shooting spotlights the growing public safety threat of online radicalization

Tandeep Sidhu, University of Manitoba

A police officer crouches next to his cruiser as someone looks out the window of a residence.

A police officer crouches next to his cruiser as someone looks out the window of a residence.

The Montréal shooter’s manifesto isn’t left or right — it’s rooted in misogyny

Karmvir K. Padda, University of Waterloo

A police officer is shown through the broken windows of a hotel room.

A police officer is shown through the broken windows of a hotel room.

A man in a suit tossing a gold coin in the air.

A man in a suit tossing a gold coin in the air.

Trump has made more than $1 billion from crypto in a year. How?

Marta Khomyn, Adelaide University

Other nations thirst for Ukraine’s drone success — but they need a culture shift first

James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University

Firefighters surround a smoking car.

Firefighters surround a smoking car.

Venezuela earthquakes highlight the limits of early warning systems

Ravindra Jayaratne, University of East London

Man wearing red helmet next to building rubble

Man wearing red helmet next to building rubble

The Strait of Hormuz is reopening, but global shipping won’t return to normal for months

Behrouz Bakhtiari, McMaster University

A small motorboat passes giant shipping vessels

A small motorboat passes giant shipping vessels

How China’s ‘red lines’ are quietly shaping global news reporting

Reza Hasmath, University of Alberta

A man reads a newspaper with two men shaking hands on the front page.

A man reads a newspaper with two men shaking hands on the front page.

Fans hold a giant Canadian flag in a hockey arena as players stand on the ice in the foreground.

Fans hold a giant Canadian flag in a hockey arena as players stand on the ice in the foreground.

Hockey Night in Canada: It’s game over for NHL hockey on CBC, but a new era beckons

Mike Dove, Western University

Oil price shocks have exposed car-dependent cities. Here’s what governments can do

Christopher J. Greyson-Gaito, McMaster University

traffic moves along both sides of a multilane highway, the CN tower and tall buildings are in the background

traffic moves along both sides of a multilane highway, the CN tower and tall buildings are in the background

The right to strike is constitutionally protected — a new Senate report is looking for a workaround

Andrew Stevens, University of Regina and Charles Smith, University of Saskatchewan

A striking worker carries a teamsters Union sign

A striking worker carries a teamsters Union sign

A dark-haired student carrying a backpack walks on a college campus.

A dark-haired student carrying a backpack walks on a college campus.

Canada’s immigration policies are creating new barriers for international students

Yvonne Zhang, McGill University and Emma Harden-Wolfson

Municipal governments are often slow to act, except when FIFA comes to town

Steve Lorteau, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

scaffolding with the CN Tower in the background

scaffolding with the CN Tower in the background

How Taiwan is balancing between American and Chinese visions of energy dominance

Philippe Le Billon, University of British Columbia

a city skyline with tall glass buildings at sunset

a city skyline with tall glass buildings at sunset

‘She should have seen it coming:’ How radicalization policies put the burden on Muslim mothers

Amani Braa, Université de Montréal

Overturned cars, engulfed in flames, with two masked people in the foreground

Overturned cars, engulfed in flames, with two masked people in the foreground

Proven facts, not partisan fiction. Get our free daily newsletter.

A middle-aged white man in a suit speaks to reporters

A middle-aged white man in a suit speaks to reporters

Canada’s ‘AI for All’ strategy has ambitious growth targets, but it falls short on workers and the environment

Simon Blanchette, McGill University

Canada’s ‘major projects’ should not come at the cost of the environment

Julia K. Baum, University of Victoria; Marc Johnson, University of Toronto, and Sarah Otto, University of British Columbia

an orca jumps out of the water

an orca jumps out of the water

Canada’s federal government is shelving online hate speech protections. Here’s why that’s a problem

Jaigris Hodson, Royal Roads University

A pair of hands typing on a computer keyboard

A pair of hands typing on a computer keyboard

A middle-aged white man with a short beard in a black dress shirt speaks from behind a podium with the Ukrainian flag on it

A middle-aged white man with a short beard in a black dress shirt speaks from behind a podium with the Ukrainian flag on it

Zelenskyy’s honouring of wartime nationalists is straining Ukraine’s alliance with Poland

Alexander Hill, University of Calgary

A military exercise featuring smoke and plumes of water in a field.

A military exercise featuring smoke and plumes of water in a field.

Modern warfare aspires to be pan-domain. What does that mean for western militaries?

Andrea Charron, University of Manitoba

Two people in bed reading different sections of a newspaper.

Two people in bed reading different sections of a newspaper.

Why 40 per cent of people are avoiding the news, according to a psychologist

Ali Jasemi, Wilfrid Laurier University

In case you missed it

A dark-haired woman and a man with short grey hair smile as they sit at a table and sign documents.

A dark-haired woman and a man with short grey hair smile as they sit at a table and sign documents.

‘Your letter has been forwarded for consideration’: A health expert on 4 ways Ottawa and Alberta avoid accountability

Aleksandra Mineyko, University of Calgary

A man with short grey hair.

A man with short grey hair.

Why Mark Carney is pushing ‘Fortress North America’ amid deep Canadian distrust of the U.S.

Richard Nimijean, Carleton University

A woman with dark hair stands behind a podium that reads Alberta Referendum 2026

A woman with dark hair stands behind a podium that reads Alberta Referendum 2026

Danielle Smith’s dangerous referendum rhetoric threatens Canada’s Constitution and Indigenous treaty rights

Gina Starblanket, University of Victoria and James K. Rowe, University of Victoria

A slim man with short grey hair wearing a windbreakers stands behind a podium that reads Building Canada Strong for All in both French and English.

A slim man with short grey hair wearing a windbreakers stands behind a podium that reads Building Canada Strong for All in both French and English.

Beyond regulation: Why committed leadership will decide Canada’s energy future

Amir Bahman Radnejad, Mount Royal University and Brenda Nguyen, University of Lethbridge

New Ontario water and sanitation law could pave the way for the financialization of public water

Meera Karunananthan, Carleton University

A tour boat heads toward massive waterfalls.

A tour boat heads toward massive waterfalls.

Canada should invest in nature as critical infrastructure

Nina-Marie Lister, Toronto Metropolitan University

a woman at a podium speaks in a park with water behind her, three other people look on

a woman at a podium speaks in a park with water behind her, three other people look on

The shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego is part of a far-right curriculum of violence

Amarnath Amarasingam, Queen's University, Ontario

A group of people gathered and mourning at a vigil.

A group of people gathered and mourning at a vigil.

Canada to host new NATO-linked defence bank as Mark Carney pushes security overhaul

Srdjan Vucetic, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

The likeness of George Washington is seen on a U.S. one dollar bill

The likeness of George Washington is seen on a U.S. one dollar bill

How the U.S.‑Israel war against Iran is exposing the limits of the petrodollar system

Elliot Goodell Ugalde, Queen's University, Ontario and Natalie Braun, York University, Canada

Canada’s new sovereign wealth fund is ambitious, but its design raises questions

Paul Calluzzo, Queen's University, Ontario; Dan Cohen, Queen's University, Ontario, and Evan Jo, Queen's University, Ontario

A middle-aged white man with grey hair in a suit speaks from behind a podium

A middle-aged white man with grey hair in a suit speaks from behind a podium

Donald Trump’s chaotic mess: When U.S. power serves the ‘sultan,’ global rules erode

Christopher Collins, Royal Roads University

Two older men sit in a garishly gilded office.

Two older men sit in a garishly gilded office.

‘The farther away, the better’ is the problematic logic behind U.S. third-country deportations

Guillermo Candiz, Université de l'Ontario français and Tanya Basok, University of Windsor

A line of security agents approach an airplane on a tarmac.

A line of security agents approach an airplane on a tarmac.

Countries must back commitments to transition from fossil fuels with action

Philippe Le Billon, University of British Columbia and Pierre Wokuri, Sciences Po Rennes

two women on a stage hug as a third claps, behind them is a large screen with the words: 1st conference transitioning away from fossil fuels

two women on a stage hug as a third claps, behind them is a large screen with the words: 1st conference transitioning away from fossil fuels

A sun rises behind tankers on the water

A sun rises behind tankers on the water

The Strait of Hormuz: The supply chain loop that broke the world

Behrouz Bakhtiari, McMaster University

How AI-generated music anthems are supporting Alberta separatism

Jamie Meyers-Riczu, Carleton University and James Deaville, Carleton University

People waving blue flags showing red, white and yellow detail, with a vehicle in the middle.

People waving blue flags showing red, white and yellow detail, with a vehicle in the middle.

As Alberta separatists court the U.S., prosperity is fuelling a sovereigntist turn

Tamara Krawchenko, University of Victoria

A thin man with short grey hair points and walks behind a hulking man with orange-ish white hair and splotchy orange-hued skin. Mountains are in the background.

A thin man with short grey hair points and walks behind a hulking man with orange-ish white hair and splotchy orange-hued skin. Mountains are in the background.

Danielle Smith’s dangerous referendum rhetoric threatens Canada’s Constitution and Indigenous treaty rights

Gina Starblanket, University of Victoria and James K. Rowe, University of Victoria

A woman with dark hair stands behind a podium that reads Alberta Referendum 2026

A woman with dark hair stands behind a podium that reads Alberta Referendum 2026

Danielle Smith’s immigration referendum fuels an ‘us versus them’ divide in Alberta

Esra Ari, Mount Royal University and Bronwyn Bragg, University of Lethbridge

A man glowers with one hand raised as he stands behind a podium at a press briefing.

A man glowers with one hand raised as he stands behind a podium at a press briefing.

From Wulfstan of York to Pete Hegseth, fake Bible verses have often been politicized

Mo Pareles, University of British Columbia

Trump

Trump’s ‘largely negotiated’ truce with Iran exposes a deeper crisis in U.S. strategic thinking

James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University

A man in the street holding an upside down photo of Donald Trump; another man beside him holds an Iranian flag.

A man in the street holding an upside down photo of Donald Trump; another man beside him holds an Iranian flag.

Vietnam ruined Lyndon B. Johnson’s political career. Will Donald Trump face the same fate over Iran?

Ronald W. Pruessen, University of Toronto

Trump wants an ‘Independence Arch’ — How famous arches warn about dangers to republics

Kelly Summers, MacEwan University

A man in a 1960s style car waves from a back window near a triumphal arch and a uniformed police officer in a black and white photo.

A man in a 1960s style car waves from a back window near a triumphal arch and a uniformed police officer in a black and white photo.

Another alleged attempt on Trump’s life: A political lifeline or a damaging display of weakness?

James K. Rowe, University of Victoria

An older man with fluffy white hair grimaces as he speaks from behind a podium.

An older man with fluffy white hair grimaces as he speaks from behind a podium.

A hulking older man with fluffy white-blond hair grimaces as he speaks.

A hulking older man with fluffy white-blond hair grimaces as he speaks.

Donald Trump’s apocalyptic and profane threats against Iran expose the unhinged language of war

Henry Giroux, McMaster University

When war looks like prophecy: How U.S. ‘end time’ narratives frame the war with Iran

André Gagné, Concordia University

An old orange hued man wearing a white cap with USA, written in gold salute as soldiers carry a coffin past him

An old orange hued man wearing a white cap with USA, written in gold salute as soldiers carry a coffin past him

Evangelical holy war: Why some Christians think Trump will end the world

Matthew Burkholder, University of Toronto

Why Donald Trump will try to declare victory in Iran well before November

John Duncan, University of Toronto

A rotund man with blond-ish white fluffy hair blowing in the breeze disembarks from an aircraft down a set of stairs that reads miami-dade fire rescue

A rotund man with blond-ish white fluffy hair blowing in the breeze disembarks from an aircraft down a set of stairs that reads miami-dade fire rescue

Men in camouflage and wearing helmets walk en masse from a military transport plane on a tarmac.

Men in camouflage and wearing helmets walk en masse from a military transport plane on a tarmac.

Hey Trump: Here’s how Canada punched above its military weight in Afghanistan — from someone with a front-row seat

Eugene Lang, Queen's University, Ontario

3 ways Canada can navigate an increasingly erratic and belligerent United States

Charles Conteh, Brock University

Canadian and U.S. flags fly on poles

Canadian and U.S. flags fly on poles

How Canada-Cuba relations must navigate the dangers of the U.S. embargo

Luiz Leomil, Carleton University

People at a protest hold signs in spanish with a caricature of donald trump

People at a protest hold signs in spanish with a caricature of donald trump

Donald Trump’s penchant for bullshit explains MAGA anger about the Epstein files

Tim Kenyon, Brock University

The Epstein revelations have exposed how ‘Boy’s Club’ elites avoid accountability

Dahlia Namian, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

A photograph of an incarcerated man

A photograph of an incarcerated man

What the Jeffrey Epstein files reveal about how elites trade toxic gifts and favours

Hugh Gusterson, University of British Columbia

A rotund man with orange-hued white hair with a pained expression on his face standing next to a younger grey-haired man who shakes hands with a woman with her back to the camera.

A rotund man with orange-hued white hair with a pained expression on his face standing next to a younger grey-haired man who shakes hands with a woman with her back to the camera.

An elderly man with fluffy white hair and orange-hued skin appears to nod off.

An elderly man with fluffy white hair and orange-hued skin appears to nod off.

Health and competence are shaping Trump’s presidency. What about his predecessors?

Ronald W. Pruessen, University of Toronto

Global news

Smoke rises from a destroyed structure.

Smoke rises from a destroyed structure.

Myanmar’s forgotten war: How the world is failing the test of the UN’s Responsibility to Protect

Kawser Ahmed, University of Manitoba

Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir is negatively impacting female education

Shambhavi Siddhi, Western University

A man pushes a girl seated on his bicycle crossbar through a street with a backpack strapped to the bike rear.

A man pushes a girl seated on his bicycle crossbar through a street with a backpack strapped to the bike rear.

Pakistan’s voter turnout decline: Why more women registered, but fewer cast ballots in 2024

Adnan Skhawat Ali, Queen's University, Ontario and Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Queen's University, Ontario

Women hold up their thumbs at a voting station.

Women hold up their thumbs at a voting station.

The women’s rights crisis in Afghanistan is an ongoing humanitarian calamity

Sepita Hatami, Western University

Girls in head scarves sit in a darkened classroom.

Girls in head scarves sit in a darkened classroom.

A man waves a red and white flag

A man waves a red and white flag

The ousting of Peru’s president points to a deeper crisis

Étienne Sinotte, McGill University

People walk along a city street strewn with garbage.

People walk along a city street strewn with garbage.

Cuba is facing an economic and social catastrophe, and not entirely because of Donald Trump

Robert Huish, Dalhousie University

Strike on Afghan hospital shows the laws of war may document atrocities — but don’t prevent them

Shabnam Salehi, Carleton University; L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Men carry a wooden coffin.

Men carry a wooden coffin.

Ukraine’s stolen children expose the lies at the heart of Russia’s four-year military assault

Vincent Artman, University of Ostrava and Tamara Krawchenko, University of Victoria

Schoolchildren pose for a photo, one with sunflowers in her hair.

Schoolchildren pose for a photo, one with sunflowers in her hair.

Flag politics in Canada and New Zealand resulted in drastically different outcomes

Paul Hamilton, Brock University and Tristan Sheppard, Western University

A row of Canadian flags in the breeze.

A row of Canadian flags in the breeze.

What Canada can learn from Mexico’s approach to U.S. trade

Wolfgang Alschner, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

A man and a woman shake hands in front of a backdrop that says MEXICO-CANADA

A man and a woman shake hands in front of a backdrop that says MEXICO-CANADA

Most read this week