paxtongn
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"I may not be able to say all I think; but I am not going to say anything that I do not think. I would rather a thousand times be a free soul in jail than to be a sycophant and coward in the streets."
- Eugene V. Debs
About Me
Globetrotter and political analyst with extensive experience managing complex projects across academic, non-profit, and political environments. My research focuses on the cultural drivers of populist and extremist politics. Professional experience includes lobbying diplomats at the United Nations during the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty negotiations; teaching at Tier-1 research universities in the United States and Canada; administering grant aid for disaster relief and emergency assistance programs; and working with humanitarian organizations in Hungary during the Syrian–EU refugee crisis.
Research & Analysis
I focus on the development and impact of populist politics and nationalism in modern democracies. This research has taken me from South Carolina to Czechia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, and now Canada. I strive to understand the historical and cultural factors which give rise to political movements that challenge existing institutions and hegemonies.
In addition to academic publication, I attempt to make my research accessible and relatable to a general audience. Through short, editorial assessments I connect major themes in global politics to pressing current events and popular culture.
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Teaching
Instruction in the social sciences and humanities entails a careful consideration of the subject’s impact in the classroom and its global context. My pedagogy builds from this dynamic, emphasizing student engagement with the practical and theoretical elements of a course’s material. Where possible, I believe in integrating participative approaches that engage students in role-playing, mock governance, and simulated analysis, to position them for future success as citizens in a rapidly evolving political landscape.
Populism, Nationalism, & Religion
This course introduces students to the historical intersections between religion, populism, and nationalism in the 20th century. At one point, upon seeing that “nationalism” had become an increasingly salient form of identity in the 20th century, social scientists predicted that religion, ethnicity, and “old-world” forms of identity would disappear. Yet, the opposite happened. Nationalism did not usurp religion and ethnicity, but instead heightened cultural rhetoric of “otherhood,” “belonging,” and what constitutes the “community.” During the semester, students explore the political philosophy behind nationalism, religious-nationalism, and populism; additionally, they examine global case studies of these movements and assess how they have shaped the geopolitical landscape of the last century. From the First World War to the present-day rise of “illiberal democracies” this class examines the why and how of political theologies and their real-world implications.
Religion, Culture, & North American Politics
This course is an investigation into the various ways religion and politics interact within the North American context. Students are introduced to a range of critical perspectives relevant to the study of religion and politics, covering important topics such as religion and identity politics, religion and labour, distinct voting behaviours among religious groups, and the intersections between church, state & modern civil society. In addition, this course covers divergences in American and Canadian civil society/ politics, by examining the rise of religious populism in the U.S. and the challenge of pluralism in both nations. As a method of framing such as broad topic, the semester is broken into three core “themes” or topics from which students can theorize the history and political implications of North American religions; these themes are (1) Colonialism, Expansion & Conflict, (2) National Identity, Values & Belonging, and (3) Political Engagement, Organization & State Formation.
For the People is a strategy game that models the conditions in which populism arises in modern liberal democracies. The game is a “semi-closed” role-playing game, that can be played with 20 to 40 players. Each player is assigned a role, and the class follows a set procedure of (i.) establishing a mock government to preside over the classroom, and (ii.) vote on policies that shape the material well-being of the class. Much like real democracies, the mock government is faced with debating and enacting competing policies (liberal/conservative/moderate) across a variety of policy fields (environmental/economic/arts & culture, etc.). The outcomes of these policies directly affect voter satisfaction and efficacy in the existing institution. As the game unfolds, players must choose between making the existing system work or endorsing a populist outsider!
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