Donald Abelson

Professor

Abelson

PhD, Queen's University
E-mail: dabelson@uwo.ca


Research Interests

Professor Abelson specializes in American Politics and US foreign policy. His work focuses primarily on the role of think tanks and their efforts to influence public opinion and public policy.


Current Research Projects

1. Split Decision: Think Tanks, Universities and the Politics that Divide Them.

This is a book-length project that examines the often tumultuous relationship between American think tanks and the universities where there are or were housed. In two of the cases, growing tensions resulted in a decision to sever ties; in the third case, the relationship has endured despite ongoing friction. This study explores why institutions that ostensibly are committed to the pursuit of knowledge often become embroiled in financial, ideological and partisan conflict.

2. "A Cardinal Sin? The Hoover Institution, Stanford University and a history of conflict.”

An article that reviews decades of conflict between one of America’s most prominent think tanks and arguably, one of its most revered universities.

3. “Come to Think of It: Reconsidering the relationship between American Think Tanks and Presidential Nominees.”

An article that re-evaluates the model of think tank recruitment constructed by Donald Abelson and Christine Carberry.


Selected Publications

Books

  • Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Influence of Public Policy Institutes. Third Edition. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, forthcoming, 2018.
  • Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Influence of Public Policy Institutes. Third Edition. Revised and Expanded. Simplified Chinese Translation. Shanghi: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Press, forthcoming, 2018.
  • Think Tanks, Foreign Policy, and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence (with Stephen Brooks and Xin Hua). Simplified Chinese Translation, Nanjing University Press, forthcoming, 2017.
  • Northern Lights: Exploring Canada's Think Tank Landscape. Simplified Chinese Translation. Shanghai: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Press, forthcoming, 2017.
  • 2017: Twentieth-first Century Immigration to North American: Newcomers in Turbulent Times. (with Victoria Esses) Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.
  • 2017: Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence. (with Stephen Brooks and Xin Hua). London: Routledge.
  • 2016: A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks and US Foreign Policy. Simplified Chinese Translation. Nanjing: Nanjing University Press.
  • 2016: Northern Lights: Exploring Canada's Think Tank Landscape. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.
  • 2010: Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes. Second Edition. Simplified Chinese Translation. Shanghai: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
  • 2009: Do Think Tanks Matter?  Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes. Second Edition (Revised and Expanded).  Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
  • 2007: Do Think Tanks Matter?  Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes. Arabic Translation.  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research.
  • 2006: A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks and U.S. Foreign Policy. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
  • 2002: Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
  • 2002: James, Patrick, Abelson, Donald E. and Michael Lusztig (eds). The Myth of the Sacred: The Charter, the Courts and the Politics of the Constitution in Canada. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University  Press.
  • 1996: American Think-Tanks and their Role in U.S. Foreign Policy. London and New York: Macmillan and St. Martin's Press.

Refereed Journal Articles

  • “Think Tanks, Lobbies and the Study of US Foreign Policy.” Le Banquet: revue du CERAP (Centre d’étude et de réflexion pour l’action politique, Paris), forthcoming.
  • 2016: Abelson, Donald E. “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Reflections on the Evolution of American Think Tanks.” Canadian Review of American Studies, 46(1): 2016, 139-157.
  • 2014: “Old world, new world: the evolution and influence of foreign affairs think tanks,” International Affairs (UK), 90 (1): 125-142.
  • 2013: “Ideas for Export: The Attraction of US think tanks,” China Think Tank (5): 132-135.
  • 2010: “Politics on Ice: The United States, the Soviet Union and a Hockey Game in Lake Placid.”  Canadian Review of American Studies, 40 (1): 63-94.
  • 2007: “A War of Ideas: think tanks and terrorism.  Policy Options, 28 (3) March: 75-78.  
  • 2002: “Think Tanks and U.S. Foreign Policy: An Historical View.”  U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda: An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State, 7 (3), November: 9-12.
  • 2000: "Do Think Tanks Matter? Opportunities, Constraints and Incentives for Think Tanks in Canada and the United States." Global Society 14 (2): 213-236.
  • 1999: "Public Visibility and Policy Relevance: Assessing the Impact and Influence of Canadian Policy Institutes."Canadian Public Administration 42 (2), Summer: 240-270.
  • 1998: Abelson, Donald E. and Christine M. Carberry. "Following Suit or Falling Behind? A Comparative Analysis of Think Tanks in Canada and the United States." Canadian Journal of Political Science 31 (3) September: 525-555.
  • 1998: "Policy Experts and Political Pundits: American Think Tanks and the News Media." NIRA Review (Tokyo), Summer:  40-43.
  • 1998: "In Search of Policy Influence: The Strategies of American Think Tanks." NIRA Review (Tokyo), Spring: 28-32.
  • 1997: Abelson, Donald E. and Christine M. Carberry. "Policy Experts in Presidential Campaigns: A Model of Think Tank Recruitment." Presidential Studies Quarterly 27 (4), Fall: 679-697.
  • 1996: Abelson, Donald E. and Michael Lusztig, "The Consistency of Inconsistency: Tracing Ontario's Opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement." Canadian Journal of Political Science 29 (4), December: 681-698.
  • 1995: "Environmental Lobbying and Political Posturing: The Role of Environmental Groups in Ontario's Debate Over NAFTA." Canadian Public Administration 38 (3) Fall: 352-381.
  • 1995: "From Policy Research to Political Advocacy: The Changing Role of Think Tanks in American Politics." Canadian Review of American Studies 25 (1) Winter: 93-126.
  • 1992: "A New Channel of Influence: Think Tanks and the News Media." Queen's Quarterly 99 (4) Winter: 849-872.

Book Chapters

  • 2017: "Any Better Ideas? Think Tanks and Policy Analysis in Canada," in Laurent Dobuzinskis and Michael Howlett (eds.), Policy Analysis in Canada. Bristol, UK: Policy Press, forthcoming, 2017.
  • 2017: "Introduction: Twenty-First Century Immigration to North America," in Victoria M. Esses and Donald E. Abelson (eds.), Twenty-First Century Immigration to North America: Newcomers in Turbulent Times. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2017: 3-12.
  • 2017: “Strategic Thinking or Thinking Strategically? The Ambiguous Role of American Think Tanks” in Thomas Juneau (ed), Strategic Analysis in Support of International Policy-Making: Case Studies in Achieving Analytical Relevance.  Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield: 203-224.
  • 2017: "Feulner's Pendulum: Moving between Policy Research and Political Advocacy," in Donald E. Abelson, Stephen Brooks, and Xin Hua (eds.), Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence. London: Routledge: 20-36.
  • 2017: "Think Tanks American Style," in Donald E. Abelson, Stephen Brooks, and Xin Hua (eds.), Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence. London: Routledge: 83-100.
  • 2017: "And the Winner Is: Why Measuring Think Tank Performance is Inherently Problematic- Lessons from Canada and Beyond," in Donald E. Abelson, Stephen Brooks, and Xin Hua (eds.), Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence. London: Routledge: 185-199.
  • 2017: "Struggling to be Heard: The Crowded and Compex World of Foreign Policy-Oriented Think Tanks," (with Stephen Brooks) in Donald E. Abelson, Stephen Brooks, and Xin Hua (eds.), Think Tanks, Foreign Policy and Geopolitics: Pathways to Influence. London: Routledge: 1-19.
  • 2016: "Think Tanks," in Scribner's Dictionary of American History, Supplement: America in the World, 1776 to the Present. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons:1005-1007.
  • 2016: “Evolution ou revolution? Le rôles des think tanks dans la politique américaine,” en Marc Riedel et Sélim Allili, eds. Les think-tanks nouveaux: baromètres de la démocratie?, Paris: Ithaque, forthcoming.
  • 2014: “Changing Minds, Changing Course: Obama, Think Tanks and American Foreign Policy,” in Inderjeet Parmar, Linda B. Miller and Mark Ledwidge (eds), New Directions in US Foreign Policy. Second Edition.  London: Routledge: 107-19.
  • 2014: ‘National Interest or Self Interest? Advocacy Think Tanks, 9-11 and the Future of North American Security,’ in Jonathan Paquin and Patrick James (eds), Game Changer: The Impact of 9/11 on North American Security. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press:174-92.
  • 2013: “Think Tanks and U.S Diplomatic and Military Affairs,” in Timothy J. Lynch (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Military & Diplomatic History.  New York:  Oxford University Press: 354-363.
  • 2012: “First Impressions, Second Thoughts: Think Tanks and US Foreign Policy,” in Tomasz Bakowski and Jakub H. Szlachetko (eds), Zagadnienie Think Tankow w ujeciu interdyscyplinarnym (The Issue of Think Tanks in an Interdisciplinary Perpesctive):  Gdansk:  Gdansk University Press: 160-174.
  • 2012: “L’étude des lobbies et des think tanks,” in Charles-Phillipe David (ed.), Théories de la politique étrangère américaine: Auteurs,concepts et approches.  Montreal: Presses de l'Université de Montréal: 319-350.
  • 2012: “Theoretical Models and Approaches to Understanding the Role of Lobbies and Think Tanks in US Foreign Policy,” in Stephen Brooks, Dorota Stasiak and Tomasz Zyro (eds), Policy Expertise in Contemporary Democracies.  London: Ashgate: 9-30.
  • 2012: “Do Policy Experts Matter?  Lessons from Canada and the United States” in Stephen Brooks, Dorota Stasiak and Tomasz Zyro (eds), Policy Expertise in Contemporary Democracies.  London: Ashgate: 89-107.
  • 2012: “Think Tanks,” in Helmut K. Anheier and Mark Juergensmeyer (eds), Encyclopedia of Global Studies.  Los Angeles: Sage: 1645-47.
  • 2010: “Is Anybody Listening?  Assessing the Influence of Think Tanks,” in Adolfo Garcé and Gerardo Uña (eds.), Think Tanks and Public Policy in Latin America: Global Dynamics and Regional Realities.  Buenos Aires: Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC): 11-33.  Available at www.cippec.org.
  • 2009: “What Were They Thinking?  Think Tanks, the Bush Administration and U.S. Foreign Policy,” in Inderjeet Parmar, Linda B. Miller and Mark Ledwidge (eds.), New Directions in U.S. Foreign Policy.  London: Routledge: 92-105
  • 2008: “The Rand Corporation,” in Ruud van Dijk (ed),Encyclopedia of the Cold War.  London: Routledge: 731-32
  • 2008: “In the Line of Fire: Think Tanks, the War on Terror and Anti-Americanism,” in Richard Higgott and Ivona Malbasic (eds), The Political Consequences of Anti-Americanism.  London: Routledge: 44-57.
  • 2007: “Any Ideas?  Think Tanks and Policy Analysis in Canada,” in Laurent Dobuzinskis, Michael Howlett and David Laycock (eds), Policy Analysis in Canada: The State of the Art.  Toronto: University of Toronto Press: 551-573.            
  • 2006: "Alguien está escuchando?  Evaluando la influenciade los think tanks en las políticas,” en Adolfo Garcé y Gerado Uña (eds.), Think Tanks y políticas publicas en Latinoamérica: Dinámicas globales y realidades regionales. Buenos Aires: Prometeo Libros: 15-50.
  • 2004: “The Business of Ideas: The Think Tank Industry in the United States,” in Diane Stone and Andrew Denham (eds), Think Tank Traditions: Policy Research and the Politics of Ideas.  Manchester: Manchester University Press: 215-31.
  • 2003: Wiktorowicz, Mary, Lapp, Miriam, Brodie, Ian and Donald E. Abelson, “Interest Groups and Health Policy in Ontario,” in Kathy L. Brock (ed), Delicate Dances: Public Policy and the Nonprofit Sector.  Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press: 171-221.
  • 2002: James, Patrick, Abelson, Donald E. and Michael Lusztig. Introduction: The Myth of the Sacred in the Canadian Constitutional Order,” in Patrick James, Donald E. Abelson and Michael Lusztig (eds), The Myth of the Sacred: The Charter, the Courts and the Politics of the Constitution in Canada.  Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002: 3-14.
  • 2002: "Think Tanks, Public Policy and Constitutional Politics in Canada," in Patrick James, Donald E. Abelson and Michael Lusztig (eds), The Myth of the Sacred: The Charter, the Courts and the Politics of the Constitution in Canada.  Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press: 171-88.
  • 2000: Abelson, Donald E. and  Evert A. Lindquist. "Think Tanks Across North America," in R. Kent Weaver and James G. McGann (eds), Think Tanks and Civil Societies: Catalyst for Ideas and Action. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers: 37-66.
  • 1999: "Surveying the Think Tank Landscape in Canada," in Martin W. Westmacott and Hugh Mellon (eds), Public Administration and Policy: Governing in Challenging Times. Scarborough: Prentice-Hall: 91-105.
  • 1998: "Think Tanks in the United States," in Diane Stone, Andrew Denham and Mark Garnett (eds), Think Tanks Across Nations: A Comparative Approach. Manchester: Manchester University  Press:107-126.
  • 1997: "Canada and the Clinton White House: Looking Back and Looking Ahead at Canadian-American Relations," in Fen O. Hampson, Maureen A. Molot and Martin Rudner (eds), Canada Among Nations: The Year of Asia-Pacific. Ottawa: Carleton University Press: 81-103.

Recent Conference Presentations

  • 2018: “Think Tanks and the Trump Presidency.” Presentation to the Policy Research and Think-Tanks Research Seminar, University of Bath (London campus), London, UK, February 16.
  • 2018: “How to Measure the Impact of Think Tanks.” Presentation to the OTT (On Think Tanks) Conference, London, UK, February 15.
  • 2018: “Think Tanks, Expertise and the Crisis of the Liberal Order in the Trump Era.” Presentation to the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS), City University London (CUL), February 15.
  • 2017: “How Do you Measure Impact? How IR Think Tanks Influence Discourse, Debate, and Decision-Making.” Panel discussion, International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, February 24.
  • 2017: "Heading North? What US Think Tanks Might Learn from Canada’s Idea Industry.” Presentation at a conference entitled, Washington’s Idea Industry in a Comparative Context, Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, February 23.
  • 2017: “Shedding Light on Canada’s Think Tank Landscape.” Presentation at the Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC, February 23.
  • 2016: “Think Tanks in Canada and the United States.” Presentation at the Embassy of the United States of America, Ottawa, December 2.
  • 2016: "Think Tanks and the 2016 Republican Race for the Presidency." Presentation to the Department of Political Science, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, January 29.
  • 2016: "Come to Think Of It: Reconsidering the Relationship between American Think Tanks and Presidential Nominees." Presentation to the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) Seminar Series, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, January 28.
  • 2015: “Think Tanks: Do They Help, Hinder or Strengthen the Development of Social Policy?” Presentation given (via Skype) as a panelist at a conference entitled, The Global Village: Our Responsibility to Engage: Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Vatican II Document Nostra Aetate, University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, October 8.
  • 2015: “The Washington Idea Industry: Some Preliminary Insights.” Presentation given at a conference entitled, The Washington Idea Industry in Comparative Context, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington, DC, October 7. Jointly sponsored by the Edwin O. Reischauer Centre for East Asian Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Global Partnership (CGP), the Japan Foundation.
  • 2015: "Foreign Investment: Japanese Foundations and American Think Tanks." Presentation given at the Centre for Global Partnership, The Japan Foundation, New York, New York, May 29.
  • 2015: "The Domestic Sources of US Foreign Policy: The Role of Lobbies and Think Tanks." Presentation given at a conference entitled, Who Decides in Washington? The Making of US Foreign Policy. Université du Québec a Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, Québec, March 26. Sponsored by the Raoul Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies, Center for the United States Studies.  
  • 2015: "Think Tanks in Comparative Perspective: The US and Beyond." Presentation given at a conference entitled, Changing Washington: Idea Industries and Public Policy: Japan and the US in Comparative Perspective, Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, Tokyo, Japan, January 23. Jointly sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
  • 2014: “Think Tanks, Soft Power, and US Foreign Policy.” Presentation to LERMA (Center for the Study of the Anglophone World), Université Aix-Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France, October 14.
  • 2014: "A World of their Own: Think Tanks and World Politics." Blanquerna - School of Communications and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain, April 24.
  • 2014: "The Role of Think Tanks in International Relations: A View from North America." Blanquerna - School of Communications and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain, April 25.
  • 2014: "Policy Research, Political Advocacy and the Future of American Think Tanks," at IMT Institute for Advanced Studies in Lucca, Italy on March 27.
  • 2014: "Ideas, Influence and Public Policy: Think Tanks in Canada and the United States." Presentation to the 2014 Manning Networking Conference, Ottawa, February 28.
  • 2013: “Exporting Ideas: The Allure of American Think Tanks.” Video Presentation prepared for the International Symposium on Think Tanks – Chinese Think Tanks and China Dream. Organized by the China Development and Reform Institute and the Chinese School of Social Science – Tsinghua University and Shanghai University, Beijing, China, June 30.
  • 2013: In Pursuit of the National Interest? Think Tanks and US Foreign Policy.” Paper presented at the Department du Monde Anglophone, Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche sur le Monde Anglophone (LERMA), Universite Aix Marseille 1, Universite de Provence, Aix-En-Provence, France, March 27.
  • 2012: “Changing Minds, Changing Course: The Evolution and Education of American Think Tanks.” Presentation made at the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, November 29.
  • 2012: “Plan of Attack:  US Think Tanks, Presidential Candidates, and the War of Ideas.” Presentation made at City University London, London, UK, October 24.
  • 2012: “A More Perfect Union: US Think Tanks and Presidential Candidates.” Presentation made at the University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK, October 22.
  • 2012: “Heavy Artillery: Israeli Think Tanks and the Battle of Ideas.” JEM Speakers’ Series, London Jewish Community Centre, London, Ontario, March 5.
  • 2012: “Evaluating the Influence of Think Tanks in US Foreign Policy: Competing Perspectives, Models and Theoretical Approaches.” Presentation to the Center for Foreign Policy Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 1.
  • 2011: “On Second Thought:  Reflections on the Changing Role of Think Tanks in American Politics.”  Presentation made to the Institute for the Study of the Americas, Senate House, University of London, London, UK, October 11.
  • 2011: “War of Ideas: “Advocacy Think Tanks” and the Debate over North American Security.” Paper presented at a Symposium on North American Security Relations.  Sponsored by the Universitè Laval, Quebec City, September 9.
  • 2011: “A Penny for your Thoughts:  Think Tanks in Canada and the United States.”  Presentation made to Bi-national Executive Seminar Canada-United States Relations.  University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Buffalo, New York, June 13. 
  • 2011: “Can the American Think Tank Experience be Imported to Israel?” Presentation made to the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies.  Sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 18.
  • 2011: “Think Again:  How American Think Tanks Compete in the Marketplace of Ideas.”  Presentation made to the Israel Democracy Institute’s (IDI) International Conference, “What do Think Tanks Do?” Jerusalem, Israel, May 15.  Presentation available on the IDI’s website idi.org.il.
  • 2011: “American Think Tanks and Presidential Elections.”  Videotaped presentation produced by L’Observatoire Français des Think Tanks for a conference sponsored by Sciences Po, entitled,  “à un an des présidentielles, quelle est la place des Think Tanks le débat public, en France et aux Etats-Unis.” Paris, France, May 10.
  • 2011: “The Evolution of Think Tanks in U.S. Foreign Policy.”  Presentation made de la Hautes études internationales, Université Laval, Québec City, February 28.
  • 2011: “Do Foreign Policy Think Tanks Matter?” Presentation made de la Hautes études internationales, Université Laval, Québec City, March 1.
  • 2010: “Think Tanks and American Foreign Policy.”  Presentation made at a conference entitled, Think Tanks and Foundations in the Transatlantic World:  Past, Present and Future.”  Organized by the Heidelberg Center for American Studies, The University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, December 3-4.

Lectures and Presentations Given on Behalf of the University of Western Ontario

  • 2017: “What a Trump presidency means for Israel.” JEM Speakers’ Series, London Jewish Community Centre, January 30.
  • 2016: “Northern Lights: Exploring Canada’s Think Tank Landscape.” Presentation at Octopus Books, Ottawa, December 1.
  • 2016: “Insights into the US Presidential Election.” Presentation to the Rotary Club, London Convention Centre, October 31.
  • 2016: Panelist, “Clinton vs. Trump: Is the World Ready? Sponsored by the University Student Council and the King’s University College Student Council, UCC Atrium, October 24.
  • 2014: “Think Tanks and Public Policy: A Primer for Journalists.” Presentation to the School of Journalism, The University of Western Ontario, June 11.
  • 2014: “A Welcome Intervention? Think Tanks and US Foreign Policy.” Presentation to the 18th Annual National Conference of the Canadian Political Science Student’s Association (CPSSA), The University of Western Ontario, January 23.
  • 2013: “What Journalists Should Know about Think Tanks, but are Afraid to Ask.” Lecture presented to the School of Journalism, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, June 12.
  • 2013: Panelist, “Promotion to Professor Workshop.” Organized by the Office of Faculty Relations, the Teaching Support Centre and UWOFA. University Community Centre, May 2.
  • 2013: “Balancing the Interests of a Diverse Membership: A View from The University of Western Ontario.’ Presentation made to the CAUT Forum for Presidents, Ottawa, January 19.
  • 2012: Panelist, “Tenure and Promotion Workshop for Faculty.” Sponsored by the Office of Faculty Relations and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association, Weldon Library, December 6.
  • 2012: “What’s Next? Obama and America after the 2012 US Presidential Election.” Presentation to the Harvey Club (London Hunt Club), Western University, November 14.
  • 2012: “Blockbuster or Lacklustre? Romney, Obama and the Race for the 2012 Presidency.” Lecture presented as part of the series, Classes without Quizzes, London Public Library (Landon Branch), October 9.
  • 2012: Panelist, “Promotion and Tenure Workshop for Members of P and T Committee.” Organized by the Office of Faculty Relations, David S. Chu International Student Centre, September 12.
  • 2012: “Reflections on the Changing World of Think Tanks.” Presentation to MA Program, School of Journalism, University of Western Ontario, June 13.
  • 2012: “On Second Thought; Reflections on the Changing Role of Think Tanks in American Politics.” Presentation to the Florida Branch of the Western University Alumni Association, Bonita Springs, Florida, March 15.
  • 2012: “First Impressions, Second Thoughts: Reflections on the Complex World of American Think Tanks.” Centre for American Studies Speakers’ Series, February 7.
  • 2011: Panelist, “Tenure and Promotion Under the Collective Agreement: How it Works.” Organized by the Teaching Support Centre, December 8.
  • 2011: “On Second Thought; Reflections on the Changing Role of Think Tanks in American Politics.” Presentation made to the Ottawa Branch of the UWO Alumni Association, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Quebec, November 9.
  • 2011: Panelist, “Promotion and Tenure Workshop.” Organized by the Office of Faculty Relations, David S. Chu International Student Centre, October 4.
  • 2011: “Do Think Tanks Matter? Debating the Relevance of Policy Institutes in Canada and the United States.” Presentation to the School of Journalism, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, June 10.
  • 2011: “Thinking in the National Interest? Why Policy Experts Often Miss the mark.” Lecture presented to the Senior Alumni Group, The University of Western Ontario, February 15.
  • 2010: “Thinking About Canada-US Relations: The Role of Western’s Canada-US Institute.” Lecture presented to the Retired Academics Group, Huron University College, September 24.
  • 2010: “Do Think Tanks Matter to Journalists?” Lecture presented to the School of Journalism, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, June 11.
  • 2010: Panelist, “Collaborative Research Programs.” Presentation made at the Academic Leaders’ Summer Conference, Grand Bend, June 10.
  • 2010: Panelist, “Faculty Performance Evaluation.” Presentation made at the Academic Leaders’ Summer Conference, Grand Bend, June 9.
  • 2009: “Think Tanks and US Presidents.” Alumni Western’s Lecture Series in Toronto. Royal Ontario Museum, October 14.
  • 2009: “New and Used Chairs.” Academic Leaders’ Summer Conference, Goderich, Ontario, June 22.
  • 2009: “An Overview of Think Tanks in Canada and the United States.”School of Journalism, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, June 12.
  • 2009: “Cold Warriors? The Political Legacy of the 1980 US Hockey Team’s Victory over the Soviets in Lake Placid.” Centre for American Studies Speakers’ Series, February 25.
  • 2009: Panelist, “Canada-US Relations in the Obama Era.” Faculty of Law, January 28.

Awards and Distinctions

  • 2016-2016: USC Teaching Honour Roll Award of Excellence
  • 2015-2016: Dean’s Award of Excellence
  • 2009-2010: USC Teaching Honour Roll Award of Excellence
  • 2003-2004: USC Teaching Honour Roll Award of Excellence
  • 2002-2003: USC Teaching Honour Roll Award of Excellence