Jacob Benjamin

PhD in Global Governance    

Jacob Benjamin
Student
Student

RESEARCH CLUSTER

RESEARCH CLUSTER

Jacob Benjamin

PhD in Global Governance

Jacob is a Ph.D. student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the University of Waterloo, studying in the field of Conflict and Security. He holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Jacob analyzes the international relations/security of the Indo-Pacific, as well as Canadian foreign policy. Jacob’s research and analysis seeks to inform policymakers on how to navigate an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific and its regional governance architecture (to that effect, Jacob’s work has been cited by the United States Congressional Research Service). On theory, Jacob studies liberalism in an international relations context, and is broadly interested in the intellectual history of international relations paradigms, Enlightenment philosophy, and political science methodology.

Jacob’s scholarly work on Indo-Pacific affairs has appeared in International Journal and his political commentary has appeared in The Diplomat. Jacob has contributed many articles to Canadian newspapers, writing on various issues of international relations. Jacob interned as a researcher for the Global Arena Research Institute based in the Czech Republic, worked as a Research Assistant for the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Waterloo, and is the recipient of an excellence award for his work as a Teaching Assistant. Jacob earned an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Waterloo in 2021, and a (Honours) B.A. in Philosophy from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2019.

Jacob travels internationally as much as possible.

Awards

  • President’s Graduate Scholarship
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
  • Global Governance Fellowship
  • Teaching Assistant Excellence Award
  • Walter Metzger Memorial Award
  • Political Science Graduate Scholarship
  • Conrad Grebel MPACS Award

Select Publications

  • (Forthcoming) Benjamin, Jacob. “Canadian Security Relations with Singapore and Vietnam: Background and Foresight.” Kingston: Defence and Security Foresight Group, 2022. (funded $2,000 by Defence and Security Foresight Group)
  • (Forthcoming) Welch, David and Benjamin, Jacob. “G20 Brief: Indo-Pacific Security.” G20 Research Group, 2022.
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “Canada’s Cross-Pacific Relations: From Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific.” International Journal 77, no. 1 (2022): 89-111. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00207020221116777
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “Australia Soured a Valuable Naval Partner in France,” The Diplomat, September 21, 2021.
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “What does Afghanistan Mean for US Allies in East Asia?” Geopolitical Monitor, August 23, 2021.
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “Vietnam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship: A Year of Leadership and Frustration on the South China Sea.” Canadian Council for Southeast Asian Studies 2021 Conference: People, Power, Politics, Pandemics and Other Perils in Southeast Asia, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, October 2021.
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “Look for an Increasingly Active Canada in the South China Sea.” The Diplomat, June 12, 2021.
  • Benjamin, Jacob. “Canada should look to Asia’s middle powers as tensions with China rise.” Torstar Corporation Newspapers, October 14, 2020.

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