Go North, Young Scholar, Go North

Abstract

Abstract.The North—defined as the Canadian Arctic—ranks among the most understudied and yet the most promising fields of enquiry for Canadian political scientists. It offers a host of fascinating research topics and intellectual puzzles, many of which entail the often fraught relationship between the Canadian state and Aboriginal peoples. Important conceptual issues await academics studying northern politics and governance. As well, political scientists' work can benefit the governments and the people of the North who are grappling with difficult practical problems as they develop distinctive ways of governing themselves.Academic work on northern politics can be at once intellectually stimulating, professionally rewarding and of significant practical utility. Accordingly, more Canadian political scientists, especially young scholars, should turn their attention northwards.Résumé.Le Nord, ou plus précisément l'Arctique canadien, constitue un des champs les moins explorés et pourtant les plus prometteurs pour les politologues canadiens. Son étude révèle une foule de sujets de recherche fascinants et d'énigmes intellectuelles, dont plusieurs se rapportent aux relations souvent tendues entre l'État canadien et les peuples autochtones. D'importants enjeux conceptuels se posent aux chercheurs de la politique nordique et de la gouvernance. De plus, les recherches des politologues peuvent aider les gouvernements et les habitants du Nord à résoudre des problèmes concrets associés au développement de façons distinctives de se gouverner.En somme, la recherche sur la politique nordique peut être à la fois intellectuellement stimulante, professionnellement gratifiante et pourvu d'une grande utilité pratique. En conséquence, plus de politologues canadiens, et en particulier ceux des nouvelles générations, devraient diriger leur attention vers le Nord.

Towards a More Collaborative Political Science: A Partnership Approach

“…The value of partnership seems especially salient when it comes to Indigenous research in political science. Much like calls for research in other understudied areas, partnership-based research “can be at once intellectually stimulating, professionally rewarding and of significant practical utility” (White, 2011: 747).…”

Contested Colonialism: Responsible Government and Political Development in Yukon

“…In the past three decades, students of territorial politics have documented and analyzed the rapid change that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples have experienced across northern Canada. In doing so, they have made significant contributions to the broader fields of provincial/territorial politics, Aboriginal politics, and public policy (White, 2011), research on the development of political institutions (Cameron and White, 1995; Dacks, 1986; White, 1991), the devolution of province-like jurisdiction to the territories (Abele, 1987 Abele and Prince, 2006; Alcantara et al, 2012; Clancy, 1990), the management of northern natural resources (Rodon, 2009; Slowey, 2008), and new risks to Canadian Arctic sovereignty from climate change and the opening of the Northwest Passage (Griffiths et al, 2011) have challenged conventional accounts of institutional development and political behaviour both within and beyond Canada's North. By far, the greatest political change in northern Canada—and where political scientists have concentrated the bulk of their efforts—has been the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and government (Dacks, 2004; Dickerson, 1992; Watkins, 1977), the negotiation and settlement of comprehensive land claims (Irlbacher-Fox, 2009), and the development of new Indigenous political orders, cultures and institutions, such as the creation of Nunavut (Abele and Dickerson, 1985; Dahl et al, 2000; Henderson, 2007; Kulchyski, 2005 Loukacheva, 2007).…”