John Kirton
Encyclopedia
John J. Kirton is a professor of political science and the director and co-founder of the G8 Research Group
, co-director (with Alan Alexandroff and Donald Brean) and founder of the G20 Research Group, and founder and co-director (with James Orbinski
) of the Global Health Diplomacy Program, all housed at the Munk School of Global Affairs
at University of Trinity College
in the University of Toronto
.
He received his B.A. in Political Science in 1971 from the University of Toronto, his M.A. in International Affairs in 1973 from Carleton University
, and his Ph.D. in International Studies in 1977 from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
at Johns Hopkins University
.
He specializes in Canadian foreign policy, the G8
, G20 and global governance, global health governance, and trade and the environment.
As a scholar of Canadian foreign policy, Kirton pioneered the complex neo-realist theory of Canada’s emergence as a principal power in the world through his major books, Canada as a Principal Power (co-written with David Dewitt) and Canadian Foreign Policy in a Changing World.
In the field of trade and environment, Kirton led the multinational, multidisciplinary team that developed an analytical framework for assessing the environmental effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) and identified the many ways in which the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
, North America’s first regional organization of consequence, enhanced ecological quality throughout the region and beyond. He has also served as a member of Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
.
The author or editor of more than 35 books, Kirton is the co-editor of two book series published by Ashgate Publishing
: Global Finance (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona) and Global Environmental Governance (with Miranda Schreurs). He is also co-editor of several publications on the G8 and G20 published by Newsdesk Media.
He is active in various volunteer activities, and serves on the board of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs
and the Atlantic Council of Canada.
Innovation in Global Health Governance: Critical Cases (with Andrew F. Cooper; Farnham: Ashgate, 2009).
Canadian Foreign Policy in a Changing World (Toronto: Nelson Thomson, 2007).
Financing Development: The G8 and UN Contribution (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007).
Governing Global Health: Challenge, Response, Innovation (with Andrew F. Cooper and Ted Schrecker; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007).
An Environment-First Foreign Policy for Canada (Remarks prepared for an Experts Roundtable on "Foreign Policy Dialogue: Environment and Canadian Foreign Policy," Ottawa, May 12, 2003).
Governing Globalization: The G8's Contribution for the Twenty-First Century (Revised version of a paper prepared for a conference on "Russia within the "Group of Eight," sponsored by the Institute for Applied International Research, April 11–12, 2003).
Building Democratic Partnerships: The G8-Civil Society Link (Paper prepared for the Third Annual EnviReform Conference: Sustainability, Civil Society and International Governance: Local, North American and Global Perspectives, November 8, 2002).
Governing Global Finance: New Challenges, G7 and IMF Contributions (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002).
Linking Trade, Environment, and Social Cohesion: NAFTA Experiences, Global Challenges (with Virginia Maclaren; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002).
Environmental Regulations and Corporate Strategy (with Alan Rugman and Julie Soloway; Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1999).
The G8’s Role in the New Millennium (with Michael Hodges and Joseph Daniels; Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999).
Canadian Foreign Policy: Selected Cases (with Don Munton; Scarborough: Prentice-Hall, 1993).
Canada as a Principal Power (with David Dewitt; Toronto: John Wiley, 1983).
The International Joint Commission Seventy Years On (with Robert Spencer and Kim Richard Nossal; Toronto: Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1981).
G8 research group
The G8 Research Groups stated mission is to serve as the world’s leading independent source of information, analysis and research on the institutions, issues and members of the Group of Eight and the G8 Summit....
, co-director (with Alan Alexandroff and Donald Brean) and founder of the G20 Research Group, and founder and co-director (with James Orbinski
James Orbinski
James Jude Orbinski, OC, OOnt, MSC is a Canadian physician, writer, and humanitarian activist. He is an associate professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs. In January 2011, he also assumed the Chair of Global Health at the Dalla Lana...
) of the Global Health Diplomacy Program, all housed at the Munk School of Global Affairs
Munk School of Global Affairs
The Munk School for Global Affairs at the University of Toronto is an interdisciplinary academic centre on global issues that integrates research with teaching and public education...
at University of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
in the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
He received his B.A. in Political Science in 1971 from the University of Toronto, his M.A. in International Affairs in 1973 from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, and his Ph.D. in International Studies in 1977 from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.
He specializes in Canadian foreign policy, the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
, G20 and global governance, global health governance, and trade and the environment.
As a scholar of Canadian foreign policy, Kirton pioneered the complex neo-realist theory of Canada’s emergence as a principal power in the world through his major books, Canada as a Principal Power (co-written with David Dewitt) and Canadian Foreign Policy in a Changing World.
In the field of trade and environment, Kirton led the multinational, multidisciplinary team that developed an analytical framework for assessing the environmental effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA) and identified the many ways in which the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was established by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to implement the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation , the environmental side accord to the North American Free Trade Agreement...
, North America’s first regional organization of consequence, enhanced ecological quality throughout the region and beyond. He has also served as a member of Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Emerging from the famous Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, the is a model for convening diverse and competing interests around one table to create consensus ideas and viable suggestions for sustainable development...
.
The author or editor of more than 35 books, Kirton is the co-editor of two book series published by Ashgate Publishing
Ashgate Publishing
Ashgate Publishing is an academic book and journal publisher based in Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom. It was established in 1967 and specializes in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and professional practice...
: Global Finance (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona) and Global Environmental Governance (with Miranda Schreurs). He is also co-editor of several publications on the G8 and G20 published by Newsdesk Media.
He is active in various volunteer activities, and serves on the board of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs
Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs
The Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs is Canada's oldest organization devoted to studying and publicizing current issues affecting Canada and public policy...
and the Atlantic Council of Canada.
Selected bibliography
Making Global Economic Governance Effective: Hard and Soft Law Institutions in a Crowded World (with Marina Larionova and Paolo Savona; Farnham: Asghate, 2010).Innovation in Global Health Governance: Critical Cases (with Andrew F. Cooper; Farnham: Ashgate, 2009).
Canadian Foreign Policy in a Changing World (Toronto: Nelson Thomson, 2007).
Financing Development: The G8 and UN Contribution (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007).
Governing Global Health: Challenge, Response, Innovation (with Andrew F. Cooper and Ted Schrecker; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007).
An Environment-First Foreign Policy for Canada (Remarks prepared for an Experts Roundtable on "Foreign Policy Dialogue: Environment and Canadian Foreign Policy," Ottawa, May 12, 2003).
Governing Globalization: The G8's Contribution for the Twenty-First Century (Revised version of a paper prepared for a conference on "Russia within the "Group of Eight," sponsored by the Institute for Applied International Research, April 11–12, 2003).
Building Democratic Partnerships: The G8-Civil Society Link (Paper prepared for the Third Annual EnviReform Conference: Sustainability, Civil Society and International Governance: Local, North American and Global Perspectives, November 8, 2002).
Governing Global Finance: New Challenges, G7 and IMF Contributions (with Michele Fratianni and Paolo Savona; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002).
Linking Trade, Environment, and Social Cohesion: NAFTA Experiences, Global Challenges (with Virginia Maclaren; Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002).
Environmental Regulations and Corporate Strategy (with Alan Rugman and Julie Soloway; Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1999).
The G8’s Role in the New Millennium (with Michael Hodges and Joseph Daniels; Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999).
Canadian Foreign Policy: Selected Cases (with Don Munton; Scarborough: Prentice-Hall, 1993).
Canada as a Principal Power (with David Dewitt; Toronto: John Wiley, 1983).
The International Joint Commission Seventy Years On (with Robert Spencer and Kim Richard Nossal; Toronto: Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1981).