Erika Simpson

Associate Professor

Simpson_E

Ph.D., University of Toronto
Telephone: 519.661.2111 ext. 85156
E-mail: simpson@uwo.ca
Office: Social Science Centre

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

Erika Simpson (PhD and MA, University of Toronto) is an Associate Professor of International Relations at Western University, London, Canada and the President of the Canadian Peace Research Association (CPRA). Her research interests are in international security and foreign and defence policy, particularly Afghanistan, arms control, disarmament, IR theory, NATO, nuclear proliferation, nuclear waste, peacekeeping and the UN. She is the author of NATO and the Bomb (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2001) and her articles have appeared in leading journals including the Brown Journal of World Politics; International Journal; In Victus Pax: Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice; Peace Magazine; Peace Research; Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice; and Policy Options. She is a national syndicated columnist for the Postmedia Network, Canada’s largest digital and newspaper chain, and a frequent commentator for The Hill Times: Canada’s Foreign Policy Magazine, as well as Canada’s CTV Television News, Asia’s Urdu News and Russia’s Sputnik News. She serves as a Director on the Board of the Canadian Pugwash Group; an associate editor for Peace Review; a Senior Advisor for the Rideau Institute; an invited Consultant for the Nuclear Abolition Forum; and a Peer Reviewer for the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health. Formerly she was an Alton Jones Fellow; a Barton Fellow; a Liu Institute Visiting Fellow; a NATO Research Fellow; and the Vice-Chair and Treasurer of Pugwash Canada. In 2015 the Voice of Women–Canada awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award for her writing on peace-related issues. At the University of Western Ontario, she teaches 2135A; 3203F; 2191B; 2141B and MA and PhD graduate students. She is a Canadian citizen and a long-time resident of London, Ontario formerly from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Current Research Projects

1. Canada in an Insecure Covid World

2. NATO’s Nuclear Weapons: Policy Issues and Debates on Nuclear Deterrence and Disarmament, 1949-2021

3. UN Disarmament and NATO’s Nuclear Deterrence Policy: The Two Solitudes’ Policy Issues and Debates, 1991-2021

4. How to use the levels-of-analysis approach to explain new threats to security – like the Canadian plan to build a nuclear waste repository close to the Great Lakes

Selected Publications

Books

  • 2001. NATO and the Bomb: Canadian Defenders Confront Critics. Hardcover first edition, 2001 and paperback second edition, 2002. Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Refereed Journal Articles

Refereed Book Chapters

  • 2010. “The NATO Club: 'northern', 'rich', 'white‘ nations defending the Imperial Palace?” In Darren Marks (ed.), War, Human Dignity, and Nation Building: Theological Perspectives on Canada’s Role in Afghanistan” (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), pp. 70-89.
  • 2009. “The new U.S. doctrine of pre-emptive warfare and its implications for nuclear deterrence and disarmament” in David Krieger (ed.), The Challenge of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (Transaction Publishers: Piscataway, NJ.), pp. 141-154.
  • 2001. “Games, Strategies, and Human Security” in M.V. Naidu (ed.) Perspectives on Human Security: National Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention (Brandon, Manitoba: Canadian Peace Research and Education Association, pp. 139-49.
  • 1998. “New Ways of Thinking about Nuclear Weapons and Canada’s Defence Policy” in D. C. Story and R. Bruce Shepard (eds.), Diefenbaker’s Legacy (Regina: Canadian Plains Research Centre), pp. 27-41.

Non-Refereed Articles in Journals

  • 2017. “How Canada can support UN peacekeeping” Policy Options, November 14, Special Issue: Peacekeeping Imagined, November 14.
  • 2017. “Nuclear Waste: Solution r Problem” Municipal World, v 127, no 8, August, pp. 3-6 [featured centre-piece magazine article].
  • 2016. “Canadians Keep Asking Questions about Saudi Arms Deal” MPC Journal, vol. 1, issue 4, April 10, pp. 99-101.
  • 2016. “Federal environment minister delays decision on nuclear waste repository” Municipal World, vol. 126, no 4, April, pp. 13-14.
  • 2016. “Evidence of heavy-handed U.S. Diplomacy in Europe affects NATO’s Intentions in Ukraine and NATO’s Strategic Concept” International Journal Advances in Social Humanities, vol. 4, issue 02, February, pp. 75-79.
  • 2008. “New Opportunities to Question US Reliance Upon Nuclear Weapons” INESAP Information Bulletin, Issue No. 28, April, pp 14-19.
  • 2005. “Threats to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty” News in Review, UN Headquarters, NYC, issue no. 14, May 19, pp. 4-5.
  • 2005. “New Threats to the Alliance’s Security and Strategies to Reform NATO” The Transatlantic Quarterly, Winter/Spring, pp. 47-51. 
  • 2001. “Thinking about Your Thesis?” University Affairs, January, pp. 24-27.
  • 2000. “Canada’s NATO commitment: Current controversies, past debates, and future issues” Behind the Headlines, vol. 57, no. 2/3, Winter/Spring, pp. 20-27.
  • 1991. "Redefining Security” The McNaughton Papers, vol. 1, (Toronto: Canadian Institute for Strategic Studies), pp. 57-75.
  • 1991. H. Peter Langille and Erika Simpson, "Peaceful Conversion: A Training Centre for Peacekeepers” Ploughshares Monitor, December, pp. 10-12.

Technical Reports Related to Academic Field

  • 2012. Rapporteur: Erika Simpson et. al “Toward an Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone”, Final Report and Recommendations of a conference, Ottawa, October 26.
  • 2010. Bev Delong, Ernie Regehr, Doug Roche, Erika Simpson, “Practical Steps toward Zero Nuclear Weapons”, unpublished paper presented to conference, “Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons” by Steering Committee, January, 34 pp.
  • 2009. Erika Simpson (on behalf of the CPG), “CPG Statement on NATO’s Nuclear Weapons Policies”.
  • 2003. Doug Roche and Erika Simpson (on behalf of the CPG) “The Only Absolute Guarantee” presented to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade “Dialogue on Foreign Policy” by the CPG, April, 16 pp.
  • 2002. “Advancing Human Security” Report of CPG meeting, July 20, for distribution to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pugwash International Council, and all CPG members, 22 pp.
  • 2002. “The Responsibility to Protect” Report of CPG and Science for Peace meeting, March 23, for distribution to DFAIT, and all members of CPG and Science for Peace, 8 pp.
  • 1994. Common Security Consultants, [H. Peter Langille and Erika Simpson], A 1994 Blueprint for a Canadian and International Peacekeeping Training Centre at CFB Cornwallis, (Halifax: Government of Nova Scotia, 1994), 106 pp., reprinted in Eng. /French in Minutes of Proceedings of the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on Canada's Defence Policy, issue no. 21, June 14, 123 pp.
  • 1993. Common Security Consultants [H. Peter Langille and Erika Simpson] and Stratman Consulting Inc. [Brigadier-General Clayton Beattie], CFB Cornwallis: Canada's Peacekeeping Training Centre—A Blueprint for a Peacekeeping Training Centre of Excellence (Halifax: Government of Nova Scotia, 1992), 70 pp., reprinted in Eng./French in Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, issue no. 45, April 1, 185 pp.
  • 1991. Common Security Consultants [H. Peter Langille and Erika Simpson], CFB Cornwallis: Canada's Peacekeeping Training Centre, (Halifax: Government of Nova Scotia, 1991), A proposal prepared for presentation by the Premier of Nova Scotia to the Prime Minister, August, 24 pp. 

Opinion Columns (Op Eds)

 Working papers available at Scholarship@Western

  • 2018. “How to use the levels-of-analysis approach to explain new threats to security – like the Canadian plan to build a nuclear waste repository close to the Great Lakes”, May 31 [refereed paper presented at the CPRA association meeting at Congress in May].
  • 2017. “Canada: Between NATO and the NPT” [presented at Dalhousie University], July].
  • 2017. “Nothing Monotonous about Drones Now” [refereed paper presented to CPRA at Congress in June].
  • 2016. “Nuclear weapons and NATO: Is it safer to deter or to disarm?” [refereed paper presented to CPSA at Congress in June.
  • 2016. “The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): Chaos or Community?” [refereed paper presented to CPRA at Congress in May].

Recent Conference Presentations

  • 2018. Erika Simpson, Gloom and Doom in the Trump Era? Be the Inspiration, invited presentation to the Rotary Club of London, London Convention Centre, London, Ontario [forthcoming Nov. 26].
  • 2018. Erika Simpson, Forgotten Mission Afghanistan: What NATO Still Needs to Do, invited paper and presentation at Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance: International Experts Workshop on NATO’s Strategic Agenda], July 13, Sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Cadenabbia, Italy.
  • 2018. “How to use the levels-of-analysis approach to explain new threats to security – like the Canadian plan to build a nuclear waste repository close to the Great Lakes”, May 31, invited paper and presentation at the CPRA association meeting at Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan.
  • 2018. “What’s in the News (and What’s Not)” Presentation to the Women’s Canadian Club of London, Centennial Hall, London, Ontario, Feb. 7 [Invited Address at a Public Conference].
  • 2017. The Canadian Proposal to Construct a Deep Geological Repository, Invited presentation, Workshop at 62nd Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs: “Confronting New Nuclear Dangers”, Astana, Kazakhstan. August 29 [Refereed and invited].
  • 2017. NATO and Nuclear Weapons, Workshop at 62nd Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs: “Confronting New Nuclear Dangers”, Astana, Kazakhstan. August 30 [Refereed and invited]
  • 2017: “NATO and the NPT: Strategies for ending the two solitudes?” Presentation to Conference on Canada’s Contribution to Global Security. Dalhousie University, Halifax, July 24 [Invited Address at a Public Conference].
  • 2017. Political and Social Issues Pertaining to the Deep Geological Repository in the Bruce Peninsula” Energy and Natural Resources Conference. Windsor University, June 22 [Refereed and invited]
  • 2016. “Canada: Between NATO and the NPT”, CNANW conference on “Building the Momentum toward Nuclear Disarmament” Ottawa, October 24 [Invited Address at a Public Conference]
  • 2015. “The 2015 NPT Review Conference: An Assessment” conference on “The way forward to a world free of nuclear weapons” sponsored by CPG, DND Targeted Engagement program, Nova Scotia’s Cumberland County, Pugwash Park Commission, Thinker’s Lodge Society, July 10, [Invited Address at a Public Conference].
  • 2015. “Prospects for the NPT post 2015 RevCon” sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group, UN Headquarters, NYC, May {The talk in Conference Room C was highly attended by approximately 70 diplomats, high-level NGO representatives and delegations during the NPT RevCon].
  • 2015. “The role of umbrella states in nuclear proliferation and disarmament” Conference Room C sponsored by Czech and Japanese delegations, PNND, et, UN Headquarters, May 3, 2015. [The panel was highly attended by approximately 40 diplomats, high-level NGO representatives and delegations during the NPT RevCon].
  • 2015. “The international campaign on abolition of nuclear weapons” at the workshop on Nuclear Armaments: Health, Ethics and Security Issues, World Uranium Symposium, Quebec City, April 15 [Invited presenter and workshop facilitator].
  • 2014. “Alliance Capabilities and Smart Defence”, conference on “Canada and NATO: Capabilities and Priorities in an Uncertain Environment” Annual Workshop for Women in International Security-Canada, sponsored by Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen’s University and NPSIA, Carleton University, Ottawa, May 30 [Invited speaker with discussant].
  • 2014. “Biological and Nuclear Weapons” Kingston Conference on International Security “CBRNe: The On-going Challenge” sponsored by the Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen’s University, the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre of the Canadian Armed Forces, the U.S. Army War College, the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Defence Academy, Kingston, May 12 [Invited speaker on a panel with discussant].
  • 2014. “New Ideas and Initiatives” sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group, UN Headquarters, NYC, May 9, 2014 [Invited speaker in Conference Room C, highly attended by diplomats, high- level NGO representatives and delegations during the 2014 PrepCom].
  • 2012. “Establishing an Arctic Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone” conference on establishing an Arctic NWFZ, Ottawa, October 27 [Invited speaker and rapporteur].
  • 2012. “The Cuban missile crisis and Iran: lessons learned” keynote speaker during the annual Canadian Coalition against Nuclear Weapons conference, Ottawa, October 20 [Invited keynote speaker].
  • 2012. “NATO and the Bomb: Why does NATO continue to rely on nuclear deterrence: for a panel on “Moving from Deterrence to a NWFZ” at the NPT PrepCom [Invited speaker].
  • 2012. “Nuclear Deterrence, the NPT and NATO”, Invited speaker and panelist to the Vienna Conference Centre, Vienna, Austria, May 9, 2012. [Talks in the Vienna Conference Centre are highly attended by academics, diplomats, high-level NGO representatives and national delegations during the PrepCom].
  • 2010. “Sex, Death and Violence in the Disarmer’s World” at conference on “Being the Change: Building a Culture of Peace”, co- sponsored by 3 universities and various NGOs and held at Mount Vincent’s University, Halifax, July 7-10 [Keynote speaker and conducted two workshops].
  • 2010. “Strategies for Making Changes to the Strategic Concept” conference on “Practical Steps toward Nuclear Disarmament” co-sponsored by 18 organizations including CPG, CCANW, DND, DFAIT, etc., Ottawa, January 27 [Invited speaker].

Invitations to Participate in Panels at Professional Meetings

  • 2018. Abolition 2000, Roundtable Discussion, NYC, May 12
  • 2018. Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Roundtable Discussions, Ottawa, April 21
  • 2018. Invited participant in roundtable. One of a few academics invited to the Department of Global Affairs Nuclear and Arms Control Dialogue (NACD), Ottawa, April 22
  • 2016. Invited participant in a roundtable for the Defence Policy Review. One of 12 academics invited to consult with Defence Minister Harjit Saijjan in Toronto, May
  • 2014. Invited participant in large roundtable One of only 2 participants invited from North America to the “Basel OSCE Forum” Department of Presidential Affairs of the Canton of Basel- Stadt, Switzerland, July 4-5
  • 2012. Panelist and rapporteur for one session, conference on “Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone” Ottawa, October 27
  • 2012. Panelist, “Discussion with  Erika Simpson, CPG and Alyn Ware, PNND” during the “CCANW Annual Conference” Ottawa, October 20
  • 2008. Panelist and speaker on “Doug Roche and Nuclear Disarmament”, co-sponsored by CPG, CCANW, MPI, Project Ploughshares, Ottawa, October 16
  • 2007. Invited panelist, “International Pugwash Roundtable on Nuclear Disarmament” Pugwash, Nova Scotia, July 5-7
  • 2006. Plenary participant, “International Affairs’ Seminars and Debates” Command and Staff course, Canadian Forces College, Toronto, October 17-20
  • 2006. Plenary participant, “Canadian Defence Policy” Command and Staff course, Canadian Forces College, Toronto, April
  • 2005. Invited participant, “Addressing exceptionalism” conference on “Bridging the Divide: Addressing Key Challenges to the NPT” Ottawa, February 22

Invitations to Chair Panels at Professional Meetings

  • 2018. “Vice-President’s Report” Canadian Peace Research Association (CPRA), University of Regina, Regina, SK, May 30
  • 2017. Chair, “Afternoon Panels”, CPRA, 2017 Conference and Annual Meeting, Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Ryerson University, May 31
  • 2016. Chair, “Morning Panels”, CPRA, 2016 Conference and Annual Meeting, Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), University of Calgary, June 3
  • 2015. Chair, “Morning Panels”, CPRA, 2015 Conference and Annual Meeting, Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Ottawa, June 2 and June 3
  • 2015. Chair and Co-Organizer, “Toward an Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone” sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group, UN Headquarters, NYC, May 4
  • 2015. Chair and Co-Organizer, “New Ideas and Initiatives” sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group, Conference Room C, UN Headquarters, NYC, May 5
  • 2014. Chair and Co-Organizer, panel on “New Ideas and Initiatives” sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group, Conference Room C, UN Headquarters, NYC, May 5
  • 2014. Chair and Co-Organizer, panel on “NATO and the NPT: Implications of Alliance Membership for the NPT” Sponsored by CPG, Conference Room C, UN, NYC, May 7
  • 2014. Chair and Co-Organizer, panel on “Arctic: an essential Nuclear Weapon Free Zone” sponsored by CPG, Conference Room C, UN, NYC, May 5
  • 2010. Co-Chair and Co-Organizer, panel on “Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons” sponsored by the CCANW, CPG, Physicians for Global Survival (PGS), Project Ploughshares and World Federalist Movement-Canada, Ottawa, January 26
  • 2010. Chair, panel on “Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons” conference on “Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons” sponsored by the CCANW, CPG, PGS, Project Ploughshares, and World Federalist Movement - Canada, Ottawa, February
  • 2009. Chair, panel on “The Challenges of Security in a World without Nuclear Weapons” conference on “Nuclear Weapons after Bush: Prospects for Abolition” John Jay Center on Terrorism, City University of New York, NYC, January 16
  • 2006. Chair and seminar leader, “United States’ Foreign and Defence Policies” Command and Staff course, Canadian Forces College, Toronto, October 16
  • 2005. Chair and seminar leader, “United States’ Foreign and Defence Policies” Command and Staff course, Canadian Forces College, Toronto, October 13
  • 2005. Chair and Panel Participant, “Addressing exceptionalism” at conference on “Bridging the Divide: Addressing Key Challenges to the NPT” Ottawa, February 22
  • 2004. Chair, forum on “Canada in a Dangerous World” sponsored by CPG, Toronto, November 13

Awards and Distinctions

  • 2018. Principal Investigator, Western University Faculty Research Development Fund.
  • 2015-present. Vice-President, Canadian Peace Research Association, regular association of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, (elected 2015-17, 2017-19).
  • 2015-present. Shirley Farlinger Lifetime Achievement Award for Peace Writings, awarded by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, a non-governmental organization with consultative status at the UN.
  • 2014-present. Peer Reviewer, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health College of Peer Reviewers.
  • 2014-present. Syndicated Newspaper Columnist, Postmedia (Canada’s largest online and newspaper chain): also occasional Columnist for The Hill-Times and Embassy Magazine.
  • 2013-present. Senate Review Board Academic member Western University, London, (elected 2013-15, 2015-16, 2016-18).
  • 2010-present. Consultant, (invited) Nuclear Abolition Forum, International Network.
  • 2006-present. Senior Advisor (appointed), Rideau Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
  • 2000-2017. Board of Directors (elected 2000-03, 2015-17), Vice-Chair (appointed 2007-11), Treasurer (elected 2003-07), Canadian Pugwash Group (Pugwash Canada or CPG) national affiliate of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (Pugwash International).
  • 2014-2017. Outreach Committee member (invited), Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), international network.
  • 2014-2015. Chair and Co-Organizer, 6 different Panels at the UN, 2014 NPT Preparatory Conference and 2015 NPT Review Conference, sponsored by Pugwash Canada and International Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, Conference Room C, UN HQs, New York City, May 2014 and May 2015.
  • 2014. Principal Investigator, Western University Faculty Research Development Fund Travel Grant, 2014-15, London, Ontario.
  • 2012-14. SSHRC Assessor, SSHRC Insight Development Grant Assessment Committee, 2012-13, 2013-14, invited 2015-16 (declined), Ottawa.
  • 2005-11. Invited Lecturer at Canadian Forces College (2005-07, 2009-11) and Plenary Participant (2011), Command and Staff course, Canadian Forces College, Toronto.
  • 2011. Alumni Award, Social Science Alumni Award, Western University, London, Ont.
  • 2010. DND Award, Department of National Defence Security and Defence Forum, January 2010
  • 2003-2010. Steering Committee Member, appointed to the organizing and fundraising committees for 6 different international conferences, co-sponsored by 18 organizations including CCANW, CPG, DND, GSI, International Pugwash, Project Ploughshares, etc.
  • 2005. Principal Investigator, DFAIT Award, Global Security Forum, ISROP, DFAIT, September-December.
  • 2005-2010. Rapporteur for many committees and conferences including the Atlanta Consultation II, Carter Center in Atlanta: the Canadian Forum for Global Security conference: and many Pugwash conferences in Berlin, Halifax, New York City, Ottawa, Pugwash, Toronto and Vienna.
  • 2002-2006. Principal Investigator, Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) award, Federal Government of Canada Standard Research Grant.
  • 2001-2003. Robert J. Lifton Fellow, Center on Violence and Human Survival, City University of New York, New York.
  • 2002-2003. Visiting Fellow, Liu Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
  • 1998-2003. Chair and Branch Representative, Canadian Institute for International Affairs, London, Ontario.
  • 1995-99. Adjunct Professor - Tier 1, Lester B. Pearson International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.
  • 1997. Canadian Representative, “Fourth International Next Generation Leader’s Forum”, Institute for Global Economics & Korea Foundation, Seoul Korea.