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PhD Geography, UCLA

Benjamin Forest is an Associate Professor at McGill University in the Department of Geography as well as an Associate Member of the Department of Political Science. A specialist in the field of political geography, his work revolves around the theme of diversity and electoral reform. In addition to being part of a project studying monuments and memorials in the post-Soviet sphere, Professor Forest is currently heading a project on diversity in party structures and constituencies in Canada. He is also working on research exploring municipal LGBTQ policies.

• Immigrant and Minority Voting Patterns
• Political Parties
• Consequences of Immigrant diversity
• Immigrant political and social incorporation
• Political institutions

• Axis 3: Representing and Governing Citizens in Critical Times - After learning and practicing democratic citizenship, the next critical steps are representation and governance. Democratic institutions are key elements. They shape the norms and incentives for active citizenship and they link citizens and their representatives in ways that foster accountability, legitimacy and representation. In Québec and Canada, as well as in other countries, confidence of citizens toward the institutions is low, as many dislike the way that members of parliaments behave and consider that politicians don’t honour their promises, hence various political endeavours to reform these institutions. Research on this axis will focus on the role of electoral systems, parliaments, parliamentary debates, and political parties.

• Linking Citizens and Democratic Institutions in a reform
• Perceiving the Public World
• Responding to Citizens: Responsiveness, Representation and Accountability