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Arctic security in Canada investigated by Fulbright scholar

Headshot of Benjamin Johnson from the shoulders up, wearing a blue suit jacket and a button-down shirt.

April 1, 2021

Benjamin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Politics at York University with a focus in international relations, Canadian politics and security studies. He is currently supervised by professor Gabrielle Slowey. Benjamin is researching the use and development of surveillance technologies in the Canadian Arctic within a critical security framework. Specifically, Benjamin is examining how these technologies are expected to contribute to the defense of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty and whether they represent a continuation or new defense strategy by the Canadian state. Benjamin investigates, in part, how the Government of Canada uses the climate change narrative – as well as other imaginaries – to further the security agenda.

Benjamin was appointed a Fulbright Canada Visiting Scholar with the Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies for winter and spring quarters, 2021. Benjamin is conducting his Fulbright award virtually including participating in a monthly research meeting with other UW students conducting research in Arctic studies.

Benjamin recently co-authored Cyber Security Challenges Confronting Canada and the United States (with John M. Weaver, Peter Lang Publishing) and is beginning work on his next project, which examines the securitization of pandemic diseases with a focus on COVID-19.

On Friday, April 16th, 2021, Benjamin will give the inaugural research talk for the Center’s new program, Canada Research Talks. The talk is at 10 a.m. PST. Click here to register. Canada Research Talks are provided by visiting scholars and graduate students. These talks showcase scholarship about Canada and celebrate student commitment and discoveries. Canada Research Talks offer the chance for scholars to receive feedback from peers and professors and to practice for a conference, work on presentation skills, or prepare for a job talk, all while contributing to the intellectual community of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies.

Traditional Fulbright Student Awards are offered to only about a dozen outstanding Canadian students annually by Fulbright Canada. These awards are intended for study and/or to conduct research in the United States. Award recipients include Canadian citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or junior professionals.