Ben Isitt
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ben Isitt is a Canadian
historian and legal scholar with expertise in the relationship between social movements and the state. In November 2011, he was elected to serve as a City Councillor and Regional Director in Victoria
, British Columbia, Canada.
. A backpacking
trip through the United States
further influenced him; the grade 12 student saw "glaring poverty." He entered the University of Victoria
in 1996 and later became news editor of The Martlet
. In a break after his first year, he took a 28-country trip through Europe
and the Middle East
, including a time working on an Israel
i kibbutz
. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
in history and professional writing in 2001.
, Isitt entered the contest for Mayor of Victoria as an independent candidate in 2002. This followed the decision of the Victoria Civic Electors, municipal arm of the New Democratic Party
, against challenging the business-aligned incumbent Alan Lowe
. Isitt's platform advocated for "a Cooperative & Green Victoria." David Turner
, a New Democrat and Victoria's mayor from 1990 to 1993, endorsed Isitt for mayor for "his energy, vision and commitment to a more just distribution of resources." http://pej.org/html/print.php?sid=395 With 40 volunteers and $9 000, Isitt won more than five thousand votes, 32% of all ballots cast.
In 2003, Isitt finished his Master of Arts
in history with a thesis on the origins of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in British Columbia. The same year, he was elected to the executive of the New Democratic Youth of Canada as policy director, endorsing Joe Comartin for leader of the NDP
and serving on the party's federal council.
For a time Isitt lived in New Brunswick
, pursuing a PhD
in Canadian history; he was active in the NDP there, helping to revive the youth wing and writing for The Brunswickan
. In 2005, Isitt once again ran for mayor, winning the nomination of the NDP-affiliated Victoria Civil Electors and capturing 43.6% of the votes cast, compared to Lowe's 51.9%.
In 2008, Isitt successfully defended his History dissertation on the topic "Tug-of-War: The Working Class and Political Change in British Columbia, 1948-1972".
, Isitt worked as a postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor of history at the University of Victoria
and University of British Columbia, teaching courses in Canadian and World history including introductory courses on Canada since Confederation and the Canadian West and advanced courses on labour, international relations and the peace movement.
Isitt is the author of two books, From Victoria to Vladivostok: Canada's Siberian Expedition, 1917-19 (University of British Columbia Press, 2010) and Militant Minority: British Columbia Workers and the Rise of a New Left, 1948-72 (University of Toronto Press, 2011), based on his doctoral dissertation. His research has been published in journals including the Canadian Historical Review, Canadian Journal of Political Science
, Labour/Le Travail
, International Labor and Working Class History, and BC Studies.
Isitt travelled across Russia
along the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 2008 completing research for From Victoria to Vladivostok (University of British Columbia Press, 2010). This forgotten chapter in the social and military history of Canada and Russia saw 4200 Canadians serve in the Allied Intervention
during the Russian Civil War
. In 2009, Isitt returned to Russia
, via China
and Mongolia
, presenting research at universities throughout Siberia
and the Russian Far East
. A Russian-language edition of From Victoria to Vladivostok is being published by the Korpus company in Vladivostok
.
In 2010, Isitt completed a Bachelor of Laws
degree from the University of London
External Programme. For the 2011-2012 academic year, he has been awarded a fellowship with the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria
for research on the legal history of labour relations.
, British Columbia, Canada. He received 8,419 votes for City Council, finishing fourth for eight available seats, and received 5,885 votes for CRD Board, the second-highest total for three spots allocated to the city. Isitt ran as an independent candidate, offering to "build a fair, safe and green Victoria."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
historian and legal scholar with expertise in the relationship between social movements and the state. In November 2011, he was elected to serve as a City Councillor and Regional Director in Victoria
Victoria
- Given name :* Victoria , word origin and list of people* Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Empress of India * Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden * Victoria of Baden , the queen-consort of Sweden as wife of King Gustaf V...
, British Columbia, Canada.
Early life
Isitt's interest in world affairs and politics was sparked by a high school history class in which he was one of only two students to argue from the leftLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. A backpacking
Backpacking (travel)
Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used...
trip through the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
further influenced him; the grade 12 student saw "glaring poverty." He entered the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in 1996 and later became news editor of The Martlet
The Martlet
The Martlet is a weekly student newspaper at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. There are over a dozen employees on the payroll, but significant work is done by student volunteers . The Martlet is funded partially by student fees, and partially by advertisements...
. In a break after his first year, he took a 28-country trip through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, including a time working on an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and professional writing in 2001.
Graduate work and community involvement
While a Master's degree student at UVicUniversity of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, Isitt entered the contest for Mayor of Victoria as an independent candidate in 2002. This followed the decision of the Victoria Civic Electors, municipal arm of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, against challenging the business-aligned incumbent Alan Lowe
Alan Lowe
Alan Lowe is a Canadian politician. He is a former mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, serving in office 1999-2008....
. Isitt's platform advocated for "a Cooperative & Green Victoria." David Turner
David Turner (politician)
David Turner is a Canadian university professor and former politician. He was the mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, from 1991 to 1993. He is currently a professor at the University of Victoria....
, a New Democrat and Victoria's mayor from 1990 to 1993, endorsed Isitt for mayor for "his energy, vision and commitment to a more just distribution of resources." http://pej.org/html/print.php?sid=395 With 40 volunteers and $9 000, Isitt won more than five thousand votes, 32% of all ballots cast.
In 2003, Isitt finished his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in history with a thesis on the origins of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in British Columbia. The same year, he was elected to the executive of the New Democratic Youth of Canada as policy director, endorsing Joe Comartin for leader of the NDP
New Democratic Party leadership election, 2003
The New Democratic Party leadership election of 2003 was held to replace New Democratic Party of Canada leader Alexa McDonough, after her retirement...
and serving on the party's federal council.
For a time Isitt lived in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, pursuing a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Canadian history; he was active in the NDP there, helping to revive the youth wing and writing for The Brunswickan
The Brunswickan
The Brunswickan is the official student newspaper of the Fredericton campus of the University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Canada. It has a circulation of 6,000 and issues are published each Wednesday of the school year, traditionally running from 25-27 issues annually.- About :A founding...
. In 2005, Isitt once again ran for mayor, winning the nomination of the NDP-affiliated Victoria Civil Electors and capturing 43.6% of the votes cast, compared to Lowe's 51.9%.
In 2008, Isitt successfully defended his History dissertation on the topic "Tug-of-War: The Working Class and Political Change in British Columbia, 1948-1972".
Scholarly achievements
After working as a research officer for the B.C. Ministry of Advanced EducationMinistry of Advanced Education
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology is a ministry in the Executive Council of the Canadian province of Alberta. The ministry is usually responsible for all post-secondary institutions in their respective jurisdictions.-External links:* *...
, Isitt worked as a postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor of history at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
and University of British Columbia, teaching courses in Canadian and World history including introductory courses on Canada since Confederation and the Canadian West and advanced courses on labour, international relations and the peace movement.
Isitt is the author of two books, From Victoria to Vladivostok: Canada's Siberian Expedition, 1917-19 (University of British Columbia Press, 2010) and Militant Minority: British Columbia Workers and the Rise of a New Left, 1948-72 (University of Toronto Press, 2011), based on his doctoral dissertation. His research has been published in journals including the Canadian Historical Review, Canadian Journal of Political Science
Canadian Journal of Political Science
The Canadian Journal of Political Science is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Canadian Political Science Association. In 1968, it was split off from a previous journal called The Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science5. The...
, Labour/Le Travail
Labour/Le Travail
Labour/Le Travail is an academic journal which publishes articles on the labour movement in the Canada, sociology, labour economics, and employment relations. Although its focus is Canadian, the journal carries articles about the United States and other nations as well.Labour/Le Travail is...
, International Labor and Working Class History, and BC Studies.
Isitt travelled across Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
along the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 2008 completing research for From Victoria to Vladivostok (University of British Columbia Press, 2010). This forgotten chapter in the social and military history of Canada and Russia saw 4200 Canadians serve in the Allied Intervention
Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War
The Allied intervention was a multi-national military expedition launched in 1918 during World War I which continued into the Russian Civil War. Its operations included forces from 14 nations and were conducted over a vast territory...
during the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
. In 2009, Isitt returned to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, via China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, presenting research at universities throughout Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
. A Russian-language edition of From Victoria to Vladivostok is being published by the Korpus company in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
.
In 2010, Isitt completed a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
External Programme. For the 2011-2012 academic year, he has been awarded a fellowship with the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
for research on the legal history of labour relations.
Election to Public Office
On November 19, 2011, Isitt was elected as a City Councillor and Capital Regional District Director for the City of VictoriaVictoria
- Given name :* Victoria , word origin and list of people* Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Empress of India * Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden * Victoria of Baden , the queen-consort of Sweden as wife of King Gustaf V...
, British Columbia, Canada. He received 8,419 votes for City Council, finishing fourth for eight available seats, and received 5,885 votes for CRD Board, the second-highest total for three spots allocated to the city. Isitt ran as an independent candidate, offering to "build a fair, safe and green Victoria."
External links
- Ben Isitt's website
- Ben Isitt's Siberian Expedition website
- Ben Isitt, From Victoria to Vladivostok: Canada's Siberian Expedition, 1917-19 (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010)
- Ben Isitt, Militant Minority: British Columbia Workers and the Rise of a New Left, 1948-72 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011)
- Ben Isitt, "Confronting the Cold War: The 1950 Vancouver Convention of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation," Canadian Historical Review, 91: 3 (September 2010)
- Ben Isitt, "Elusive Unity: The Canadian Labor Party in British Columbia, 1924-1928," BC Studies 163 (Fall 2009)
- Ben Isitt, "Fellow Traveller: A British Columbia Fisherman Writes Home from the Eastern Bloc, 1952," Labour/Le Travail, 63 (Spring 2009)
- Nelson Wiseman and Ben Isitt, "Social Democracy in Twentieth Century Canada: An Interpretive Framework," Canadian Journal of Political Science, 40:3 (September 2007)
- Ben Isitt, "Searching for Workers’ Solidarity: The One Big Union and Victoria General Strike of 1919," Labour/Le Travail, 60 (Fall 2007)
- Ben Isitt and Melissa Moroz, "The Hospital Employees' Union Strike and the Privatization of Medicare in British Columbia, Canada," International Labor and Working-Class History, 71 (Spring 2007)
- Ben Isitt, "The Siberian Expedition,Legion Magazine, (November 2008)
- Ben Isitt, Langford's Bear Mountain Interchange: Urbanization on the Western Frontier and the Blurring of Public and Private Interests (Victoria, 2007)
- Higher Learning and the Labour Market in a Changing World: Environmental Scan for British Columbia, BC Ministry of Advanced Education (May 2009)
- Ben Isitt, Housing for All: The Social Economy and Homelessness in British Columbia’s Capital Region, Canadian Social Economy Hub (October 2008)