Senior Fellow, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University
Gerald Wright studied at the University of Toronto (B.A., Modern History),the University of Oxford (M.A., Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and Harvard University (Master in Public Administration), and received a PhD degree from the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. He was assistant to the president of York University in 1967-1968 and from 1972 to 1987 was vice-president of the Donner Canadian Foundation. In 1978-1979 he was a visiting professor of Canadian Studies in Japan and in 1985-1986 he was study director of the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on Canada's International Relations. He has been president of the Atlantic Council of Canada, vice-chairman of the Atlantic Treaty Association, president of the National Capital Branch of the Canadian International Council and a member of the National Boards of the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security, the Canada-DPRK Association and the Canadian International Council. From 1987 to 2002 he served in the Government of Canada, including periods as special advisor to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and senior policy advisor to the Minister for International Trade. He was Skelton-Clark Fellow of Queen’s University in 2001-2002. He became general manager of the National Electricity Round Table in 2002 and retired from that position in early 2008. He has been teaching a course on U.S. foreign policy at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs of Carleton University. He is the author of a number of articles, monographs and book reviews on Canadian foreign policy and Canadian-American Relations, most recently “Managers, Innovators and Diplomats: Canada’s Foreign Ministers” in Canada Among Nations 2008, eds. Robert Bothwell and Jean Daudelin (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2009). Currently, Gerald Wright is a Senior Fellow of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs of Carleton University. He was a visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at the Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan in 2012-2013.
A Hague Tribunal has ruled against China’s
claims to the South China Sea. Gerald Wright explains the thinking behind China’s
assertions, and why the decision is unlikely to make headway on reducing tensions.
China’s contentious claim to one of the world’s
busiest shipping lanes might soon be dealt a blow by a tribunal. Chinese
officials are unlikely to recognize its ruling, but if Canada is
serious about respect for international law, we must press Beijing to
abide by the Law of the Sea Convention.
Gerald Wright on why Prime Minister Abe’s political agenda, which includes gaining Japan the right to participate in collective self-defence, hinges on the success of his economic strategy.
Gerald Wright on the past, present, and future of the Japan-Canada relationship.
This week, Japan’s Prime Minister meets Obama. Gerald Wright explains what they need from each other, and why they may not get it.
Gerald Wright on the upcoming Japanese election and what it will mean for the country’s ties to Canada.
