Monthly Archives: August 2021

Meet our new research fellow; undergrad course recommendations

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An item from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Meet our new Sproul Fellow, Nicholas A. R. Fraser
  • Undergrad class suggestions with a Canadian angle
  • Upcoming event: The Politics of Coronavirus in Canada and the United States
  • External event: “Inuit: The Arctic We Want”
New Sproul Fellow Nicholas Fraser Studies Impact of Bureaucratic Culture on Government Policy
Dr. Nicholas A. R. Fraser, a political scientist specializing in the impact of organizational culture on policy application, officially joins Canadian Studies Wednesday as a John A. Sproul Research Fellow. As a visiting researcher, Dr. Fraser will assist program director Irene Bloemraad with research on migration-related topics.
Dr. Fraser received his B.A. from the University of Calgary and holds M.A.s from the University of British Columbia and Waseda University (Japan). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, where he was previously an associate at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Canadian Studies sat down with Dr. Fraser to discuss his past research and what drew him to Berkeley. Highlights from the interview are below: read the full piece on our website.
What sparked your initial interest in immigration?
Just before I finished my bachelor’s degree, I had opportunity to teach English abroad in Japan. That experience set the agenda for kind of research I do, because it was only by going to Japan that I realized how unique Canada is in terms of immigration and multiculturalism. I just hadn’t fully appreciated how different Canada is from other countries, even other developed democracies.
While I was over there, I had the chance to meet some foreign workers from Brazil, who told me how difficult it was to get legal status and to bring family members in. And I thought, that would be way easier in Canada, so why is it so hard here? I realized that actually, maybe I should look at the question another way – in a global sense, Canada’s immigration policy is comparatively pretty generous. I was curious where that comes from.
People often point to Canada’s history or culture as an explanation, but I think that’s a reductive way of looking at things. Australia, for instance, has a similar history, yet immigration is seen much less positively there and they have a much stricter refugee policy. So my research situates Canada in a comparative perspective to understand why we have a relatively generous refugee policy legacy.
Why did you apply to be a Canadian Studies Sproul Fellow?
I love the interdisciplinary approach here. UC Berkeley is an amazing research university, and there’s a great community here working on a number of different aspects of migration. But the number one reason is Irene. She’s a force to be reckoned within migration studies. The opportunity to work with someone that has so much influence on interdisciplinary migration studies, political science, psychology, sociology – that would be a game-changer. It’s the dream, really, getting to work with an amazing person at an amazing institution.
What will you be working on at Berkeley?
Irene and I are going to be doing a lot of things together. One project that we are considering is how multiculturalism affects legal proceedings. In court, for example, many people have a default expectation that witnesses will swear on the Christian Bible. So the question is, if you’re a juror, how credibly do you view people who choose to swear on another text, who are often religious or ethnic minorities?
This is an important issue, because we want to see if it feeds into structural biases against these groups. I’ve already done some experimental research on this topic in Canada with Colton Fehr, and I’ll be giving a talk on some of our preliminary findings in November. We’re still exploring, but my plan is to do a United States-Canada comparison, because this issue is obviously relevant to the United States as well.
Why do you think it’s important to study Canada?
Canada is a comparatively generous country when it comes to immigration and multiculturalism. As a Canadian, I think it’s important to understand why from a social sciences perspective, in an objective way, for informing better policy. Canada is not perfect – I don’t want to paint an overly rosy picture – but there are many things Canada has done right and could improve on in the future. If we have a better idea of why things worked, it makes better policy going forward.
I also think Canada doesn’t get enough attention within political science. A lot of research focuses on the US and Europe, but I think Canada is really important because it differs from those other places on important policy issues such as immigration. So I’m thrilled to be joining the Canadian Studies Program to contribute in any way I can.
Undergrad Course Recommendations: Franco-American Literature and Comparative Disability Law
Are you an undergrad still trying to fill a hole in your schedule, or just looking for an interesting class that covers a Canadian topic? Check out the following courses:
Instructor: Susan A. Maslan
In this course, students will explore the literary and cultural texts emerging from the long history of the French in North America. Throughout the semester, discussions will focus on the politics of representation, understanding the processes through which categories of “race” are shaped over time. While instruction will focus on the United States, the course will discuss New France (Quebec) and read excerpts from The Jesuit Relations.
This course satisfies the American Cultures requirement.
Instructor: David B. Oppenheimer
Comparative Equality Law uses a problem-based approach to examine how the law protects equality rights in different jurisdictions. The course will comparatively examine US and other international legal systems, including that of Canada, and provide a global overview of legal protection from and legal responses to inequalities. The course covers 5 topic modules: theories and sources of equality law; employment discrimination law; secularism, human rights and the legal rights of religious minorities; sexual harassment/violence; affirmative action, and gender parity.
UPCOMING EVENT
Elections Matter: The Politics of Coronavirus in Canada and the United States
September 14 | 12:30 pm | Online | RSVP here
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have wide-ranging consequences on North American politics. The effect of the pandemicon Joe Biden’s 2020 win remains debated; meanwhile, Justin Trudeau hopes to use the belated success of his vaccine procurement strategy to win his party a parliamentary majority in the September 20 federal elections. How has COVID-19 shaped electoral politics in Canada and the United States as it relates to crucial recent and ongoing policy choices? Political scientist Daniel Béland will address this question while discussing the potential political and policy consequences of the upcoming Canadian elections.
Daniel Béland is James McGill Professor of Political Science at McGill University and director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. His research focuses on public policy, political sociology, and federalism and territorial politics.
EXTERNAL EVENTS
Inuit: The Arctic We Want
September 14 | 1 pm ET (11 am PT) | RSVP here
On July 16-19, 2018, delegates from Alaska, Greenland, Canada and Chukotka (Russia) came together for the 13th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). Under the theme “Inuit – The Arctic We Want,” delegates discussed policies and developed strategies for the 2018-2022 Alaskan Chairmanship of ICC. The event culminated in the adoption of the Utqiagvik Declaration, which serves as a guide for the ICC’s work over the 2018-2022 term and as a reflection of Inuit priorities across Alaska, Greenland, Canada and the Russian Federation. Please join the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute as we welcome ICC leaders to share their perspectives on the Utqiagvik Declaration’s priorities, reflections on their implementation since 2018, and goals for the final year of the Alaskan Chairmanship.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

[REMINDER] Request for Participation – “I Joined” Membership Campaign

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In 2020, as a way to get membership engaged all across the country, Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion engaged in an “I Joined” campaign.  In preparation for a membership drive that we are going to undertake in the Fall, US Branch 25 – representing the San Francisco Bay Area – is replicating this campaign.

Our members are the lifeblood of the Royal Canadian Legion.  Without your support, we could not do all we do to honour, support, and remember Canada’s veteran and their families.  We invite you to share why you joined the Legion.  For some it may be to give back to those who served, to honour family members, or to support our branch and communities.  So tell us your Legion story!  Why did you join the Legion?  What do you like about being a member?  What is your favourite Legion memory?  Please visit https://tinyurl.com/branch25-ijoined/ to contribute your own story, and be sure to upload a photo of yourself or our branch to accompany your story – or even a video.

If you visit https://www.legion.ca/news/articles/2019/11/28/in-their-own-words-why-our-members-joined-the-royal-canadian-legion you can see the stories of nine of our comrades from the Dominion Command campaign.  Some of the videos that were produced included:

Here are some examples that have already been submitted from our own Branch:

If you have any questions, please let us know.

75 Years in the Making: The Devil Dogs Of Marines’ Memorial

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An item from a fellow veterans organization in the Bay Area.

Marines' Memorial: 75 Years in the Making

In the previous editions of Marines’ Memorial: 75 Years in the Making, we’ve focused on the people, the building, and the city.  While we think all of these are quite photogenic, this month we’d like to focus on arguably our most photographed feature of the Club… the Bulldogs! 

The Devil Dogs of Marines’ Memorial

It was after the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918 that the Marines assumed the moniker “Teufelshunden” or “Devil Dogs,” purportedly from the battered Germans who dubbed their salty, indefatigable conquerors.

 

Soon afterward, U.S. Marine Corps recruiting posters depicted an English bulldog wearing a Marine Corps helmet. The image helped unofficially establish the English bulldog as their mascot.

USMC Recruiting Poster

SgtMaj Jiggs

From the very first canine recruit, SgtMaj Jiggs, to the long line of “Chestys” that began in 1957 honoring LtGen Chesty Puller, the most decorated and venerated Marine in the history of the Corps, the bulldog has been the revered mascot of the United States Marine Corps.  Marines’ Memorial has honored that tradition for the last 20+ years right here at the Front Desk of the Club.

Newest Chesty's First Day

The Marines’ Memorial bulldog family started with Bubba in 1998 who was followed by Bailey, Beau, Bubba Jr., Beulah and our two newest recruits who joined us last summer, Ms. Betty White and Brutus.

 

Take a look at our “B”eloved Marines’ Memorial Mascots throughout the years and let us know how you honor the Devil Dog mascot! Whether you have a picture or memory at Marines’ Memorial or you have your own bulldog at home, share it with us and it might show up in a future edition of the Crossroads of the Corps and Marines’ Memorial social media!

Bubba

Bubba

Bailey

Bailey

Beau

Beau

Bubba, Jr.

Bubba, Jr.

Beulah

Beulah

Betty White

Betty White

Brutus

Brutus

Donate Join or Renew
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Marines’ Memorial Association & Foundation

609 Sutter St.

San Francisco, CA 94102

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New articles are available from Canadian Military History!

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Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion has partnered with the folks at the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, who have been providing webinars and these articles throughout the pandemic.  A great benefit for members and non-members alike.

First Canadian Army artillery support in Operation Veritable, German armoured assaults against the Normandy bridgehead, plus fourteen book reviews!
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New articles from Canadian Military History Vol. 30 No. 1 are now available at http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/. 
“A Calculated and Terrible Efficiency:” The Operation Veritable Fire Plan, February 1945
David Grebstad
Abstract: The First Canadian Army’s Operation Veritable, launched in early February 1945, aimed to drive the Germans from between the Maas and Rhine Rivers in order to establish the jumping off point for the Allied assault into the Rhineland. To support this attack, over a thousand guns were assembled from Canadian and British artilleries to smash and suppress the German defenders as the Anglo-Canadian manoeuvre forces advanced. Through innovation, guile and the use of new and more effective equipment, the gunners in support of First Canadian Army overcame challenging terrain and a weakened but nonetheless resolute enemy to enable the largest offensive operation of Canadian arms in the Second World War with what one Canadian Army historian referred to as a “calculated and terrible efficiency.”
The Night of the Panthers: The Assault of Kampfgruppe Meyer/Wünsche on Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse, 8/9 June 1944
Arthur Gullachsen
Abstract: This article provides historical insight into the failure of German armoured counterattacks in the immediate aftermath of the Normandy invasion. The failure of an armoured battlegroup of the 12.SS-Panzerdivision to take the village of Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse on the night of 8/9 June 1944 was not exclusively due to poor planning, lack of coordination and not enough infantry support. Though these factors
were present in abundance, the main reason for failure was German confidence in mutated armoured tactics that were successfully used by the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front. These rough tactics, though successful in the Ukraine in 1943, actually violated established German armoured doctrine. The failure of the Waffen-SS commanders to recognise the need for greater preparation and, by default, larger and more powerful resources doomed their early offensive operations against the Normandy bridgehead, one of which is examined in detail within this article.
BOOK REVIEWS
Morrison: The Long-Lost Memoir of Canada’s Artillery Commander in the Great War by Major-General Sir Edward Morrison, edited by Susan Raby-Dunne 
Peter L. Belmonte

Harry Livingstone’s Forgotten Men: Canadians and the Chinese Labour Corps in the First World War by Dan Black
Tim Cook

Making the Best of It: Women and Girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the Second World War edited by Sarah Glassford and Amy Shaw
Tim Cook

Not for King or Country: Edward Cecil-Smith, The Communist Party of Canada, and the Spanish Civil War by Tyler Wentzell
Tim Cook

Crerar’s Lieutenants: Inventing the Canadian Junior Army Officer, 1939-45 by Geoffrey Hayes
Caroline d’Amours

A Township At War by Jonathan F. Vance
John Heckman

Forging the Shield: The U.S. Army in Europe, 1951-1962 (U.S. Army in the Cold War) by Donald A. Carter
Mark Klobas

Fort Henry: An Illustrated History by Steve Mecredy
Michael P.A. Murphy

Ypres by Mark Connelly and Stefan Goebel
Katrina J. Pasierbek

Indigenous Peoples and the Second World War: The Politics, Experiences and Legacies of War in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand by R. Scott Sheffield and Noah Riseman

William John Pratt

Operation Kinetic: Stabilizing Kosovo by Sean M. Maloney
Krenare Recaj

The Imperial Army Project: Britain and the Land Forces of the Dominions and India, 1902-1945 by Douglas E. Delaney
Brad St.Croix

The Craft of Wargaming: A Detailed Planning Guide for Defense Planners and Analysts by Jeff Appleget, Robert Burks and Fred Cameron
David Stubbs

The Stories Were Not Told: Canada’s First World War Internment Camps by Sandra Semchuk
Andrew Theobald
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