Policynet Community Members,

I'm absolutely delighted to be joining you in this virtual community. Having maintained a few different personal blogs (current personal journal can be found here - I now use it mainly as an archive for my newspaper columns), I feel I've got a vague idea as to how I'll be proceeding.

First, a point of order: I am a generalist. I claim no particular expertise in one or two fields specifically. Nor do I feign proficiency right across the spectrum. I am a lover of all things political, from international relations to history to political communications to political philosophy.

But because we all need a schtick, be it resolved that my main area of study is human security. Specifically, I have focused a heavy concentration of my graduate work (MA - PSCI, University of Waterloo) on the doctrine of The Responsibility to Protect and attending issues. Secondarily, I have focused on US foreign policy, especially the major competing ideological strains in America's approach to IR and the Iraq War. I have found the issue of the Iraq War particularly interesting over the last two years, as I continue to consider the plausible alternatives, the damage wrought by Anglo-American unilateralism, the existing and potential goods that will continue to manifest, and the role of Canadian foreign policy vis-a-vis that of our counsins to the south.

Now, a brief word on why I've chosen Waterloo Room as the name of my Policynet journal.

History

The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most important events in the life of the British Empire and the English Speaking Peoples. That battle, and the larger allied campaign of which it was a key part, I think quite obviously played a major role in shaping the 19th century Europe, Britain and therefore the North Atlantic world more generally. This namesake is a reference to my historical sensitivity as an amateur writer and analyst, and it represents my perhaps somewhat unscholarly attachment to the indispensable role played by the Anglo-American peoples in the creation of the world order that has defined international relations these last centuries.

Diplomacy

In 2004, French president Jaques Chirac was welcomed to Windsor Castle to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale. In order to save their guests embarassment, the British hosts renamed the Waterloo Room the Music Room, and upon President Chirac's departure reverted to the original name. This is the stuff of diplomacy, and emblematic of the thoughtfulness that a successful foreign policy and diplomatic agenda depend upon.

Alma Mater

In 2008 I graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours BA in Political Science. This year, I'll pair it with an MA in the same field. Not only do I study at one of North America's finest universities, though; I love the community of which it is a vital part. The Waterloo Region is an incredible place to live, work, innovate and experience a rich diversity of cultural and natural phenomena (I'm thinking Oktoberfest, for example...). Whenever I have the opportunity to plug for the Waterloo Region, I shall not disappoint.

At any rate, that's where I'll leave it for today. Just a brief introduction so we can get to know one another. If you're reading this, chances are you have your own blog up and running. Please always feel free to drop me a line, add me as a contact, or swap links.

All best,

M