Sovereignty Shock: Canada-US Relations in a New World Order

The Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution presents a virtual seminar with Ronald Niezen, Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Sociology, University of San Diego
Professor Emeritus in Anthropology, McGill University.

Niezen’s talk will focus on the history of “sovereignty shocks” in Canada and the U.S. that have resulted from U.S. President Donald Trump’s expressed intention to annex Canada. This talk considers the history of “sovereignty shocks” in and between Canada and the U.S. as a way to understand the current crisis better. Indigenous peoples experienced such shocks when European colonists first recognized them as sovereign nations and later subjected them to narrative dehumanization, treaty violations, and usurpation of territory. Consistent with the pre-World War II era of state-sanctioned territorial ambition, the new U.S. government promotes a story of American sovereignty that defies the rule of law and prepares the way for crimes of aggression. Understanding these histories and developing thoughtful responses to narratives of aggression strengthens resilience against expansionist ambitions.