Dr. Sukumar Periwal was born in New Delhi, India and educated in the United States and Britain. After completing his doctorate in International Relations at the University of Oxford, Sukumar was a tutor and research fellow at the Central European University in Prague, focusing on nationalism and political change in the post-communist states. He then worked for an Italian newspaper, Il Foglio Quotidiano, contributing columns on social and political trends around the world. Since moving to Canada in 1997, Sukumar has been working for the Government of British Columbia’s Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat, where he is Director, International Relations.
Dr. Periwal was the first recipient of the Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chair at the University of Washington. Dr. Periwal, Director of International Relations for British Columbia’s Intergovernmental Relations, served as Chair in Fall 2006 and Winter 2007 quarters. Dr. Periwal’s research project considered cross-border organizations and intergovernmental linkages in the Pacific Northwest in order to evaluate their effectiveness in resolving border issues and trade disputes, diffusing business best practices and enhancing North American competitiveness. His research was relevant to Canada-US relations, North American integration, border issues, international trade, and conflict resolution.
Scholarly Activities
The following is a listing of all of the activities Dr. Periwal was involved with during his tenure as Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chair 2006-07.
6-10 November 2006 – Canada Week, Portland, Oregon
Participation in Canada Week in Portland including lectures at Willamette University, Linfield College, Western Oregon University, Portland State University, and the University of Portland.
1-2 December 2006 – UW-UBC Health Symposium
Participation in the UW/University of British Columbia, Health Symposium.
17 January 2007 – Border Breakfast, Portland, Oregon
Presented at the Border Breakfast organized by Canadian Consulate General, Seattle, in Portland.
17 January 2007 – Lecture, University of Portland
Lectured at the University of Portland on “Diaspora: Strategic Threat or Competitive Advantage?”
24 January 2007 – UW MBA Study Tour Lecture
Lectured to UW MBA students on “British Columbia.”
1, 8, 14 & 22 February 2007 – 2010 Olympic Roundtables
Convened the 2010 Olympics roundtables sponsored by the Center and Canadian Consulate.
2 February 2007 – Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium
Presented on regional cooperation at Pacific North West Canadian Studies Consortium annual meeting.
15 February 2007 – Border Policy Research Institute
Presented on “Increasing Real Security,” at Border Policy Research Institute conference on perimeter security, Bellingham, Washington.
16-19 February 2007 – MBA Study Tour to Vancouver
Acted as a Faculty Advisor to the UW Canada Study Tour to Vancouver, B.C.
28 February 2007 – Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
Lectured on “Canada-US Relations” and “Nationalism and Globalization” at Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington and “Regional Cooperation in the Pacific Northwest,” at Fairhaven College, Bellingham, WA.
1-2 March 2007 – Center Graduate Student Symposium
Lectured on “Why is Canada Interesting?,” at the UW Graduate Student Symposium as well as served as a respondent for student research.
3 March 2007 – UW/University of British Columbia SACPAN Conference
Lectured on “Diaspora” at the UW/U.B.C. SACPAN conference.
7 March 2007 – Seattle Passport Office Young Professional Program
Lectured on “The Impact of WHTI on Canada” for the Seattle Passport Office Young Professionals Program.
13 March 2007 – Border Security Breakfast, Olympia, WA
Lectured on “Improving Border Security” at Border Breakfast organized by Canadian Consulate General, Seattle in Olympia, WA.
16 March 2007 – Crossing Borders Conference
Acted as moderator for the Border Security Panel at the “Crossing Borders Undergraduate Student Conference, Seattle, WA.
Publications
“Beyond Borders: Regional Partnerships in the Pacific Northwest,” Occasional Paper Series on Canada-US Relations, Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, February 2007.