Research Digest - 2026
Peer reviewed article
Tracey Raney. Confronting Violence and Harassment in Westminster Parliamentary Workplaces: Lessons for Canada. (external link) Canadian Parliamentary Review. 48:4. 3/30/2026. Published.
Conference Presentation
Tracey Raney. "Legislatures as Workplaces: Safety for equity deserving people" Parmida Khanchi (TMU, POG student) and Tracey Raney (TMU). Connecting for Action: Gender-Based Violence and Leadership in Nova Scotia, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia 5/26/2026.
Tracey Raney. "The Gendered Costs of Violence to Inclusive Political Leadership" Presented at the 'Canadian Legislative and Leadership Studies Workshop' (co-organized by Alex Marland and Jonathan Malloy), Canadian Political Science Association annual conference, Ottawa: University of Ottawa, June 2-4th, 2026 6/3/2026.
Tracey Raney. "Parties and Sexual Harassment Rules in Canada: A feminist institutionalist comparative analysis." Cheryl N. Collier (University of Windsor) and Tracey Raney (TMU) Presented at the Canadian Political Science Association annual conference, Ottawa: University of Ottawa, June 2-4th, 2026 6/3/2026
Appointment
Tracey Raney has been appointed Programme Co-Chair of the Canadian Political Science Association annual conference to take place at UBC, Vancouver BC on May 26-28th 2027.
Other
Tracey Raney. The 'Women in the House' program hosted a book launch for Dr. Mona Lena Krook's new book, "Elect Women for a Change: The Path to Gender Parity in Politics." The event was co-hosted with Bunyaad Public Affairs and took place at the Samara Centre for Democracy. 3/26/2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Moderator: "Imported Instability: The Global Spread of Democratic Backsliding and What it Means for Canada" (external link) , Canadian Vote Summit 2026, Calgary. Panelists: Annika Silva-Leander (International IDEA, New York) and David Salvo (Institute for Strategic Dialogue, Washington D.C.). 5/21/2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Panelist: "Foreign Interference and Transnational Repression in Academia," 2026 Canadian Research Security Conference--Threads of Resilience: Strengthening Canada’s Capacity for Secure Global Collaboration. Co-organized by the University of Manitoba and TMU. Winnipeg, 26-27 May 2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-writer, "Countering the Threat of Wannabe Fascists with Federico Finchelstein," (external link) On the Frontlines of Democracy podcast. Co-produced by Angela Glover and Jack Cochrane in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Creative School, TMU. 5/25/2026. Published.
Invited Talk
Sanjay Ruparelia. The socioeconomic foundations of democratic backsliding (external link) . Worldly Political Economy: Historical and Contemporary Critiques of Global Capitalism, Johns Hopkins University. Co-organizes by Ho-fung Hung, Robbie Shilliam and Ines Valdez. 5/2/2026.
Appointment
Sanjay Ruparelia. Member, Advisory Board, Canadian International Council.
Other
Sanjay Ruparelia. Guest lecture: "Canada navigating great power rivalry", Trinity College, University of Toronto. 3/31/2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Panelist: Canada in a Fragmenting World: Navigating Geopolitics, Alliances, and Emerging Security Challenges (external link) , with Patrice Dutil (TMU) and Grace van Vliet (University of Toronto), co-sponsored by the Toronto branch of the Canadian International Council. 4/8/2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-writer: Building Democratic Resilience and International Solidarity with Bob Rae (external link) , On the Frontlines of Democracy, a live recording at the 2026 Democratic XChange Summit, Toronto. Produced by Angela Glover and Jack Cochrane in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Creative School, TMU, and OCAD. 4/18/2026. Published.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-writer, The Struggles for Black Freedom in the US and Africa with Howard French (external link) , On the Frontlines of Democracy podcast. Produced by Angela Glover and Jack Cochrane in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Creative School, TMU. 4/6/2026. Published.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-organizer: Federico Finchelstein, Fascism at the Gates (external link) , On the Frontlines of Democracy lecture series. Co-sponsored by the Faculty of Arts, TMU, and Toronto Public Library. 4/29/2026.
Op-ed/essay
Sanjay Ruparelia. Carney’s India strategy promises many benefits. Globe and Mail. (external link) 3/4/2026. Published.
Maral Karimi. This is what Mark Carney Needs to Do Regarding the War with Iran. The Toronto Star. (external link) 4/11/2026. Published.
Maral Karimi. Eight Experts on What You’re Not Being Told about the War in Iran. The Walrus. (external link) 3/3/2026.
Invited Talk
Maral Karimi. Ministerial Policy Engagement with Hon. Anita Anand to provide policy input on Canada’s response to the U.S.–Israel war on Iran. Submitted policy recommendations addressing war, sanctions, and regional stability. 3/23/2026. Accepted.
Other
Sanjay Ruparelia. Moderator: "The Middle Powers’ Moment: Navigating a Fragmenting Global Order". Panelists: Brendan Simms and John Nilson-Wright, Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge. Gardiner Museum, Toronto. 3/24/2026.
Maral Karimi. Iran Conflict: War, Regime Survival and Escalation Dynamics. Bloomberg Television. Published.
Maral Karimi. Grading Mark Carney on the war in the Middle East. CBC Cross Country Checkup w Ian Hanomansing. (external link) 4/8/2026. Published.
Invited Talk
Michael McGregor. Understanding Attitudinal and Emotional Responses Towards Eliminating Paper Voting in Favour of Internet Voting. Michael McGregor (TMU), Scott Pruysers (Dal). Canadian Municipal Barometer Speaker Series. 3/11/2026.
Appointment
Miriam Anderson has been elected to the executive committee of the Peace Studies Section, International Studies Association for the 2026-2028 term.
Other
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-organizer, Howard French (Columbia University), "The Second Emancipation" (external link) , On the Frontlines of Democracy public lecture series, co-sponsored by the TMU Faculty of Arts and Toronto Public Library. 2/19/2026.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-writer, "Dignity, Freedom and Memory with Lea Ypi" (external link) (LSE), On the Frontlines of Democracy podcast. Produced by Angela Glover and Jack Cochrane, in partnership with the Faculty of Arts and School of Journalism, TMU. 2/27/2026. Published.
Book chapters
Tom McDowell. From Precarity to Stability: The Impacts of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot as a Structural Intervention in Mental Health and Substance Use. (external link) Tom McDowell & Mohammad Ferdosi. In Dionysio Nyaga & Masood Zangeneh (Eds.), Critical Ethics on Mental Health and Madness, Springer. Chapter Four; pp. 53-87. 2/13/2026. Published.
Tom McDowell. Mental Health and Income Security: Insights from the Ontario Basic Income Pilot. (external link) Tom McDowell & Mohammad Ferdosi. In Dionysio Nyaga & Masood Zangeneh (Eds.), Critical Ethics on Mental Health and Madness, Springer. Chapter Seven; pp. 117-123. 2/13/2026. Published.
Peer reviewed articles
John Shields. Economic factors contributing to social isolation among immigrant older adults in the Greater Toronto Area. (external link) Guruge, S., Saha, M., Shields, J., Chandrasekaran, K., Metersky, K., Catallo, C., Amanzai, H., Zhuang, Z., & Sidani, S (All TMU). Journal of Ageing and Longevity. Vol. 6, Issue 1. 12/24/2025. Published.
John Shields. Health, Social, and Settlement Service Providers’ Perspectives of Determinants of Social Isolation Among Older Immigrants in Canada. Guruge, S. (TMU); Sidani, S. (TMU); Hanley, J. (McGill University); Zhuang, Z. (TMU); St-Amant, O. (TMU); Agrawal, S. (University of Alberta); Walsh, C. (University of Calgary). Journal of Aging and Social Change. 1/27/2026. Accepted.
Op-ed/essays
Maral Karimi. These protests in Iran are different from those that came before. That doesn’t mean the regime will collapse overnight. (external link) The Toronto Star. 1/18/2026. Published.
Conference presentations
Sanjay Ruparelia. (PDF file) Litigating positive rights: Critical reflections from the global South. (external link) Re-Opening the Door: Litigating Positive Rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Asper Centre Symposium, Jackman Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. 1/16/2026.
Grants
Rob Goodman. Demagoguery and Democracy: A Theoretical and Historical Reconstruction. Giuseppe Ballacci (PI, University of Minho). FCT Portugal. 1/22/2026. Accepted.
Miriam Anderson. Expanding and Publishing the Dataset on Women's Participation in Peace Negotiations, 1975-2025. Miriam Anderson, Brian Urlacher (U North Dakota).
Other
Janet Lum. Integrated Care Across the Continuum For Older Adults In Ontario Canada. Dr. Paul Williams (Professor Emeritus), U of Toronto; Dr. Frances Morton-Chang Adjunct Faculty, U. of T; Dr. Karen Spalding, Professor Emerita,TMU; Dr. Janet Lum, Professor Emerita, TMU. Scholarship Program for Clinical Leaders of Hong Kong Hospital Authority. January 12 to 26, 2026. 1/12/2026. Published.
Sanjay Ruparelia. Host and co-organizer, Lea Ypi (LSE), Indignity, A Life Reimagined (external link) , On the Frontlines of Democracy public lecture series, co-sponsored by the TMU Faculty of Arts and Toronto Public Library. 1/29/2026.
Maral Karimi. Does Democracy Await Iran? (external link) TVO TV Interview. 1/19/2026. Published.
Maral Karimi. Iran Protests: Who is Reza Pahlavi. (external link) CBC The National. 2/13/2026. Published.
Maral Karimi. Global National. (external link) 1/12/2026. Published.