March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – Terrorist attacks have become an all-too-common occurrence. On March 22 there were two terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium; on March 27, there was an attack in Lahore, Pakistan.

There are several Laurier experts available to comment on topics relating to terrorist attacks.

Terrorism and Islamophobia

Jasmin Zine, professor in Laurier’s Sociology program, is an expert on Muslim youth, Islamophobia, religious extremism and the new imperialism. Contact information: jzine@wlu.ca.

Areas of Expertise:

• Race and education, securitization and gender
• Imperialism/War on terror
• Canadian Muslim studies
• Muslim youth and identity
• Muslim women's studies

Christopher F. J. Ross, associate professor in Laurier’s Religion and Culture program, is an expert on the psychology of fundamentalism and the social psychological dynamics of the response to terror. Contact information: cross@wlu.ca.

Areas of Expertise:

• Psychology of religion
• Personal needs and religion
• Personality and religion
• Effects of conflict on children
• Religion and social justice

Journalism

Thomas Rose, an instructor in Laurier’s Journalism program, is an expert in journalism, international law and human rights. Contact information: 519-756-8228 or trose@wlu.ca.

Areas of Expertise:

• Journalism law and ethics
• Journalism and democracy
• International law

Global Governance and Policy

Paul Heinbecker, director of Laurier’s Centre for Global Relations and Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Distinguished Fellow, is an expert on foreign policy and international governance. He has a distinguished career in Canadian diplomacy — including posts as ambassador to Germany, permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and adviser to various prime ministers. Contact information: 613-853-2761 or paul@heinbecker.ca.

Edmund Pries, assistant professor in Laurier’s Global Studies program, is an expert on oaths, pledges and vows of citizenship, global citizenship and ethics, and international humanitarian law. He is fluent in English and German. Contact information: 519-884-1970 x4593 or epries@wlu.ca.

Alistair Edgar, associate professor in Laurier’s Political Science program and executive director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), is an expert on international relations, the United Nations and counter-terrorism, and Canadian defence and security policy. He also co-runs Canadian Global Security, a research project with a mandate to serve as a focal point for debate, research and policy analysis related to emerging global security issues in regions of Canadian foreign policy concern. Contact information: aedgar@wlu.ca.

Areas of Expertise:

• The United Nations
• Transitional justice in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Kosovo and Uganda
• Foreign and security policies in the U.S., Canada and Japan
• Defence industries in the U.S., Canada and Japan
• International conflict resolution
• Russian foreign policy and defence industry policies

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