Jennifer Welsh (standing), Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy and Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security, speaks with students. Image by Owen Egan and Joni Dufour
Democratic institutions and civic trust are under strain worldwide.
Polarization, misinformation, and eroding democratic norms are compounded by a growing distrust of government, science, and media. These pressures intersect with broader forces of scarcity, migration, inequality, and disruptive technologies. ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï is a global leader in research on democratic behaviour and misinformation and our centres and institutes link scholarship to practice.
Our Strengths
In Quebec and Canada, cultural, linguistic, and legal pluralism and the imperative of Indigenous reconciliation are foundational to social resilience. Meeting these challenges requires knowledge that crosses disciplines, connects with public policy, and engages directly with communities. It also requires comparative perspectives on how institutions elsewhere operate and intersect with our own, ensuring that lessons can be tested, translated, and applied across diverse contexts.
At ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy advances research on misinformation and civic trust, while the Max Bell School of Public Policy connects this work directly to decision-makers, institutions, and public debate. Scholars contribute to international policy dialogue on conflict resolution, governance, and human rights.
Our Ambition
We will expand and mobilize our expertise across the university to strengthen democracy, enrich civic life, and inform public policy. Researchers will influence elections management, migration policies, and democratic inclusion and shape debates on reconciliation and Indigenous–settler relations.
This work will support pluralism more broadly and extend beyond Canada. It will contribute to the study of international security, design of governance frameworks, and analysis of how institutions adapt under pressure. In an era of contested global order, ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï will bring Canadian insights into international comparison, advance scholarship vital to safeguarding sovereignty at home, and enhance global cooperation.