Laurier expert alert: U.S.-Iran conflict

Jan. 7, 2020
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Tensions are rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3. Earlier today, Canada paused its military operations in Iraq in response.

Wilfrid Laurier University has several experts available to speak about topics related to the situation.

Ann Fitz-Gerald is the director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs and a professor in Laurier’s Department of Political Science. She is an expert in global security, security sector governance and peace and conflict. She has advised, and has been seconded to work with, a number of countries on issues relating to national security policy and strategy issues.

Fitz-Gerald can be reached at 226.772.3087, 519.505.6466 or afitz-gerald@balsillieschool.ca.

Timothy Donais is an associate professor in the International Public Policy and Global Governance programs at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and in Laurier’s Department of Global Studies. He is an expert in peace and conflict, with a particular focus on the ways in which international-level, state-level and community-level dynamics interact in complex war-to-peace transitions. He can be reached at tdonais@wlu.ca, 226.772.3181 or 519.200.3159 (mobile).

Alistair Edgar is the associate dean of the Balsillie School of International Affairs and an associate professor in the Department of Political Science. From 2003 to 2018, he was the executive director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System. He is an expert on United Nations peacekeeping; peacebuilding and international security; and Canadian and U.S. security and defence policy.

Edgar is available to speak about NATO’s response to the crisis in Iran and how it might affect Canadian troop deployments and missions in Iraq. Contact: aedgar@wlu.ca or 226.772.3167.

Maria Gallego is an associate professor in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. She is an expert in public economics, political economy and intergovernmental negotiations. Gallego is available to speak about how international crises, such as the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, can trigger speculation and destabilize stock markets worldwide. She can be reached at 519.884.0710 x2635 or mgallego@wlu.ca. 

Kevin Spooner, associate professor in the departments of History and North American Studies, is an expert on Canadian foreign policy, Canada’s role in international peacekeeping and Canadian identity. He is available to speak about the impacts of the crisis in Iran on Canada’s relationship with the United States. Contact: kspooner@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x2165.