Politics Beyond Politicians: Civic Engagement and Social Advocacy in Local Politics

Thursday, Nov 24, 2022

1:30pm - 3:00pm

Lecture by:
Dr. Laura Pin

Scholars sometimes declare that “all politics is local politics” in the sense that all politics is rooted in place. Municipalities in Canada have the least constitutional recognition – and fundraising ability – of any level of government. Despite limited agency over federal and provincial decisions municipalities deal with the day-to-day consequences that arise from these decisions in areas like healthcare, infrastructure, migration, and housing. And in turn, local conflicts can shape policy decisions at the provincial, national and even international levels.

About The Lecturer

Dr. Laura Pin

Dr Pin was awarded my PhD in Political Science from York University in 2019, with a focus on Canadian and comparative politics. During her doctoral studies, she spent time as a visiting scholar at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Prior to joining Laurier, Dr. Pin was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Guelph, with a joint appointment to the Political Science Department and Community-Engaged Scholarship Institute.
Her research examines how social inequality intersects with policy-governance regimes and how political scientists can use community engaged research to understand participation in public policy beyond formal political institutions. Dr. Pin engages with race, class, gender, disability and other categories of difference to understand the lived experiences of policy. Currently she is working on projects on civic engagement and local advocacy, housing policy, and municipal diversity and inclusion planning.

Politics Beyond Politicians: Civic Engagement and Social Advocacy in Local Politics. Scholars sometimes declare that “all politics is local politics” in the sense that all politics is rooted in place. Municipalities in Canada have the least constitutional recognition- and fundraising ability – of any level of government. Despite limited agency over federal and provincial decisions municipalities deal with the day-to-day consequences that arise from these decisions in areas like healthcare, infrastructure, migration, and housing. And in turn, local conflicts can shape policy decisions at the provincial, national and even international levels.