Max Bell School of Public Policy - News and Research from Andrew Potter

Andrew Potter: Trust, state capacity, and the meaning of ArriveCAN | The Line

��SM�� — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:15:53 +0000

November 4, 2022 | "The crisis of state capacity can't be separated from the more general crisis of expertise and the legitimacy of the state and the rule of law." says Andrew Potter.

Andrew Potter: Zelenskyy's mistake was believing Canada was serious | The Line

��SM�� — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 16:14:47 +0000

July 20, 2022 | In this article for The Line, Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter lambastes the Canadian government for allowing gas turbines for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to be returned to Germany.

Read the article.

After a hundred days of war, the West is losing interest in Ukraine | The Line

��SM�� — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 13:49:29 +0000

June 6, 2022 | With Russia's illegal war in Ukraine now well past the hundred day mark, Western interest is waning—despite the fact that Ukraine's people and territorial integrity are far from safe. What does this tell us about the depth of the West's commitment to Ukraine? Andrew Potter comments in this article for the The Line.

Read the article.

Andrew Potter: The last honourable man | The Line

��SM�� — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 02:44:49 +0000

April 14, 2022 | Writing for The Line, Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter comments on the heroism of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, in the face of Russia's attempted incursion into Kiev.

Read the article.

Andrew Potter: The Everything War | The Line

��SM�� — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:11:45 +0000

March 16, 2022 | Professor Andrew Potter breaks down the strange ways media is influencing and documenting the Russia-Ukraine conflict, from the livestreaming of an assault on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant; the hacking of Russian television by the Anonymous collective, which replaced the scheduled programming with pro-Ukrainian content; the White House briefing to Tik-Tok and YouTube influencers; and the the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, using his Twitter account to challenge Vladimir Putin to a duel.

Andrew Potter: Who loves Canada? | The Line

��SM�� — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 18:20:47 +0000

February 28, 2022 | Andrew Potter writes for The Line: Left-wing nationalism tends to be a feature of post-colonial states, where the fight for independence or liberation from oppressors forms the nationalist narrative. Of all the incredible aspects of Ukraine’s David versus Goliath struggle against the Russian invasion, one of the most remarkable has been the strength of Ukrainian nationalism and the forces of collective will and sacrifice it has marshalled.

Andrew Potter: Self Help for Partisans | The Line

��SM�� — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:20:42 +0000

February 1, 2022 | Many Canadians look to the state of politics in America and feel better about our own politics. But is "Canadian exceptionalism" a delusion? Andrew Potter outlines three principles or guidelines that may provide a reality check.

Read the article.

There is a word for a shameless age | The Line

��SM�� — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 21:01:19 +0000

January 10, 2022 | Andrew Potter writes for The Line that we're living in a shameless age. "More than almost anyone else in our society it is politicians who feel the weight of mass opinion, the pride that comes with public esteem, or the shame that follows public disgrace."

Read the article here.

Do We Still Believe in a Better Tomorrow? | The Agenda

��SM�� — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:07:04 +0000

January 10, 2022 | It's true, albeit clichéd, to say that we're living through "unprecedented times." With all the bad news out there, do we still believe in a better tomorrow? Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter, author of the recently published book "On Decline: Stagnation, Nostalgia, and Why Every Year is the Worst One Ever," weighs in.

Watch the interview.

Andrew Potter: I Think Elon Musk Will Die on Mars | Let's Dig Deep

��SM�� — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:49:51 +0000

August 27, 2021 | In this podcast guest appearance, Andrew Potter shares his foreboding predictions for the future of Western society.

Listen now.

Yes, civilization is in decline (though it may not stay that way) | Ottawa Citizen

��SM�� — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:21:11 +0000

September 22, 2021 | Terry Glavin reviews Max Bell School's professor Andrew Potter's new book ON DECLINE.

Read the article.

The calculated measure of success of our mission to Afghanistan | Policy Options

��SM�� — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:33:58 +0000

August 30, 2021 | Was Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan a success? Despite the recent collapse of the Afghan government and the resurgence of the Taliban, Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter argues that Canada accomplished the narrow objectives it set back when troops were first deployed.

Read the article.

Luxury Belief Systems and Economic Stagnation: The Recipe for Our Discontent | Quillette

��SM�� — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 16:21:56 +0000

August 19, 2021 | "The growth of civilization shifted our concerns from struggles against the elements to trying to deal with other people. Our politics thus went from being focused on survival, to being obsessed with status." Read a passage from Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter's new book, ON DECLINE.

Read the article.

The COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change. Culture wars. For the West, the party is over | Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 14:33:02 +0000

August 20, 2021 | "The rot in the foundations of the West is deep, and we are still in the early stages of figuring out just how bad things are going to get." Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter's new book, ON DECLINE, delves into the structural challenges facing Western nations as they attempt to deal with COVID-19, climate change, and an onslaught of other crises.

Andrew Potter: Why cancelling Canada Day until further notice would backfire | National Post

��SM�� — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:26:42 +0000

July 1, 2021 | "Canada is a big country with a long and messy history, and we are probably closer to the beginning than to the end of our reckoning." Writing for the National Post, Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter shared his view that, in a country which will be pushing forward on Reconciliation for many years to come, "cancelling" Canada Day is a not as simple as many think.

Read the article here.

Andrew Potter: My fellow Gen Xers don't appreciate our great gift: we were ignored | The Line

��SM�� — Thu, 20 May 2021 15:06:50 +0000

May 20, 2021 | "That is why when you hear a Gen Xer talk about being the “latchkey” generation, they aren’t really complaining — they’re bragging. There’s another word for the neglect being described here, and that’s freedom." Andrew Potter explains why he's so grateful to count himself as a member of Gen X.

Andrew Potter: The pandemic has eroded trust, but without it no country can remain democratic and free | National Post

��SM�� — Thu, 27 May 2021 13:51:13 +0000

May 25, 2021 | The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated Canadians' growing distrust of government and civil society institutions. As we begin to emerge from lockdowns, says Andrew Potter, the restoration of trust must be a top priority.

Read the article.

In Alberta’s quest for a fair deal, the province shouldn’t look to Quebec for solutions | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 16:18:37 +0000

May 29, 2021 | In his latest for the Globe and Mail, Max Bell School professor Andrew Potter cautions Alberta—as it seeks to gain more federal leverage—to avoid the pitfall of emulating Quebec's tactics.

Read the article.

Hedging our bets with China was a mistake | The Line

��SM�� — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:06:32 +0000

March 23, 2021 | In this recent article, Max Bell Professor Andrew Potter comments on the current diplomatic trajectory Canada is taking with China. To learn more about the economic and defense-related consequences involved, read on.

Read the article

Canada's lack of interest in self-defence explains COVID failures | The National Post

��SM�� — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:15:40 +0000

January 15, 2021 | In this article for the National Post, Max Bell School Professor Andrew Potter discusses the unique logistical challenges that Canadian government bodies face as the issue of vaccine supply becomes more relevant, and how their response measures up to the actions of other nations.

Read the article.

The people who fought Donald Trump will miss him when he’s gone | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:58:26 +0000

November 12, 2020 | Critics of US President Donald Trump rejoiced when networks called the 2020 election for former Vice President Joe Biden. But for all the fanfare, will they miss Trump once he has left office? In this Globe and Mail article, Max Bell School Professor Andrew Potter argues that we should consider how Trump has played a perfect foil for liberals and progressives, providing them with a galvanizing sense of purpose.

Read the article.

Negotiating a betrayal in Afghanistan | Open Canada

��SM�� — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 13:00:16 +0000

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban will likely result in the Taliban's at least partial return to power. It's a pity so few Canadians care why this is happening writes Max Bell School Professor Andrew Potter in this Open Canada article.

Read the article.

Potter: How the Citizen helped create a shared community in Ottawa | Ottawa Citizen

��SM�� — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:34:23 +0000

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Ottawa Citizen, a newspaper known for serving (and bringing together) three distinct constituencies: residents of the municipality of Ottawa, members of the National Capital Region public service, and citizens from across Canada. In this article, Andrew Potter, a member of the Max Bell School teaching staff and a former editor of the Citizen, reflects on the crucial role that newspaper has played throughout its history and muses on the future of Canada's financially-troubled media ecosystem.

The Liberals and NDP have embraced contempt for Parliament | The National Post

��SM�� — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 15:11:47 +0000

June 1, 2020 | Recently, a two party agreement was reached in Parliament: the NDP supported the Liberals’ motion to suspend regular sittings of Parliament until September, while the Liberals promised to push for a federal policy guaranteeing 10 days of paid sick leave to workers. Given the social distancing guidelines espoused by health experts, is the continued suspension of in-person Parliamentary proceedings actually in the interest of public health? Or is it a ploy by the Liberals to avoid answering tough questions and dealing with non-COVID political issues?

Engineering a ‘green recovery’ is a terrible idea | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:22:24 +0000

June 1, 2020 | In the coming weeks, the federal government is expected to begin crafting a stimulus package to lift Canada out of the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on which cabinet ministers have been assigned to the project, it seems clear the Liberals want to incorporate their climate goals into the package, addressing climate change and economic recovery at the same time. Is a stimulus package the best way to deal with a pandemic recession? And is mounting a “green recovery” the most efficient strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

Forget about schools – open the summer camps in spring | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Thu, 07 May 2020 16:36:19 +0000

May 6, 2020 | Camps are the solution to many of the problems the school reopening is designed to solve, while significantly mitigating the risks of exposure and transmission. Going to camp gets children out of the house and lets their parents return to work.” Andrew Potter, Associate Professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, explains how mass childcare and summer camps are a precursor to restarting the economy in the face of COVID-19.

It's not a crime to disagree with health officials | National Post

��SM�� — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:56:32 +0000

April 15, 2020 | In public health discourse, there is a lack of contrarianism, dubbed heterodoxy, that is almost completely missing from the national conservation. Andrew Potter elaborates on the need to question the official response to the pandemic, and the narrowness of the options that we are being given for getting back to normalcy.

We are at war with COVID-19. We need to fight it like a war | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:15:44 +0000

April 8, 2020 | From restrictions on civil liberties, to the command economy, to the rationing of key supplies, to the hoarding of food and medicine, to the daily body counts — the world is gearing up to fight the war against COVID-19. Andrew Potter discusses the framing of this idea, and the potential for readjusting our resources and mindsets.

Canada's Federal Government is on the ropes in coronavirus crisis | National Post

��SM�� — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:37:44 +0000

March 16, 2020 | The world has been swept by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with various governments drafting immediate contingency measures. Andrew Potter presents his analysis of the Canadian government’s current initiatives.

The Afghanistan mission Canada can’t be allowed to forget | The Globe and Mail

��SM�� — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 18:22:03 +0000

March 14, 2020 | Canadian soldiers have been at the forefront of the Afghanistan Mission for almost 13 years now. Nearing the end, Andrew Potter, a professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, comments on Canada’s under-recognition of military service.