What a time to be in Political Science! This Fall has had more than its share of elections to keep us engaged and busy. From the U.S. Presidential race to Canadian provincial campaigns, the study of politics has never been more relevant. We have several events this month to discuss all things political. All events are open to all and free to attend. Please rsvp to [email protected]  so we can make the appropriate arrangements for refreshments.

In this issue, we feature Dr. Elena Maltseva who specializes in Comparative politics; comparative public policy; political behavior and democratic politics.

For those who welcomed Tulip to campus, thanks so much for your support. She had a great time and it was great seeing so many happy people engaging with her. It was a great stress buster and she will return for final exam season.

We had a lovely ceremony in October for the Dean’s Honour roll. Check out our Instagram for selfies from the stage.

Congratulations to the Political Science student Dean’s Honour Roll:

We have a full schedule this month with talks and special events. Please email email [email protected] to register in advance for the speaker series so we can ensure enough refreshments for everyone.

These and other events and updates can also be found on our department website and on our department channel in Brightspace.

Q: What inspired you to become a professor?

A: Even as a child, I enjoyed playing school, always taking on the role of teacher. During my school years, I read Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky and The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Soviet dissident. These books had a profound impact on me; I even brought The Gulag Archipelago to school to discuss it in a history class. Always an avid reader, these works further stimulated my interest in history and politics. Later, as a university student at Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg, Germany, I met Professor Gerhard Kraiker, who deeply influenced my political views and academic interests. In short, I see my academic career as a logical continuation of my lifelong passion for teaching and the social sciences, especially history and politics.

Q: What is your area of research?

A: My research interests lie in the area of left-wing politics, social movements and state-society relations in post-Soviet states. I am also interested in the politics of welfare reforms and social policy in post-Soviet states, as well as issues of migration in comparative perspective.

Q: What projects are you currently working on?

A: I am currently working on four research projects. My first project focuses on women’s political activism and collective action in Central Asia. I became interested in this topic upon noticing that, despite significant setbacks to women’s rights across Central Asian republics following the Soviet collapse, various forms of women’s mobilization had emerged in the region by the mid-2000s. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, for instance, women activists organized regular political and socioeconomic protests and developed a genuine feminist movement. Together with my research assistant, I am working on a paper examining the origins and dynamics of women’s political and social mobilization in Central Asia. Once completed, we plan to submit this paper to a reputable academic journal for review.

Alongside the project on women’s collective action in Central Asia, I am finalizing an article on the politics of resource extraction and social protests in Russia. Additionally, I am preparing a book chapter on Kazakhstan’s social welfare reforms under President Tokayev, which will be part of an edited volume, Public Sector Reforms in Kazakhstan: Progress, Challenges, and Way Forward, to be published by Routledge in 2025. Finally, while collecting data on women in post-Soviet states, I became interested in exploring the integration processes of migrant and refugee women from former Soviet republics in Canada. This inspired a new pilot project that examines the settlement experiences of Ukrainian women refugees in Canada, supported by the University of Windsor’s SSHRC Explore Grant.

For those interested in the history of Soviet Central Asia and women’s rights under Communism, I recommend The New Woman in Uzbekistan: Islam, Modernity, and Unveiling under Communism by Marianne Kamp (University of Washington Press, 2016). To better understand civic activism and state-society relations in Putin’s Russia, I suggest Varieties of Russian Activism: State-Society Contestation in Everyday Life, edited by Jeremy Morris, Andrei Semenov, and Regina Smyth (Indiana University Press, 2023).

Q: What courses are you teaching this semester? What are you excited about teaching this semester?

A: I am currently teaching an introductory course in comparative politics (POLS 1300) and an upper-level/graduate seminar on politics and security in Russia and Eurasia (POLS 4420/8360). While I’m not sure if everyone would call these courses “exciting,” I am undoubtedly passionate about the subjects I’m teaching this semester. I often find myself reflecting on the issues and questions we discussed in class, even after I get home.

I consider my upper-level seminar to be quite challenging, primarily because students are expected to have some background in Eurasian politics or be willing to read extensively to fill in any knowledge gaps.

Next semester, I’ll be teaching POLS 2880: Selected Topics – Current Political Issues.

Q: Do you have any tips on how to succeed in university?

A: I recommend that everyone learn to read critically and efficiently. Academic reading is challenging, especially when tackling subjects that are new to you. I’m confident that all of our students have strong reading skills, but understanding complex social science articles requires moving beyond basic comprehension. To truly grasp these texts, it is essential to analyze not only what a text says but also how it says it. Critical reading involves breaking down an argument into its components to evaluate how effectively each part contributes to the whole.

While reading, I suggest starting by noting the central topic or question the text addresses, along with the author’s thesis or main argument. Reading in smaller chunks and taking notes after each paragraph, section, or chapter can help you capture only the most essential information. Once you’ve finished, list the three to five most important points.

For further guidance, see this helpful handout on critical reading in the social sciences from the University of Victoria: "Critical Reading in the Social Sciences".

Q: . I know you previously taught at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. What was your favourite part about that experience? Have you travelled to any other countries in Eurasia?

A: I consider my teaching experience in Kazakhstan to be one of the most valuable and positive experiences of my life. I truly enjoyed teaching Kazakhstani students, who were smart, politically engaged, and highly motivated. Their energy and passion for learning inspired me greatly. I also appreciated the chance to deepen my understanding of Kazakhstani history, society, culture, and traditions. Additionally, I loved exploring Kazakhstan and its beautiful landscapes. I’m especially grateful to Kazakhstan for providing my daughter with some of her best school years, which she still remembers with great fondness. Alongside Kazakhstan, I also visited Kyrgyzstan, and in the future, I plan to explore Uzbekistan and the Caucasus republics.

Q: Do you think that the political will is still there for Ukraine to join NATO? If so, do you think that it will still be there if and when the war with Russia comes to an end?

A: While there is strong Western support for Ukraine within NATO, the ongoing war, geopolitical concerns, and the need for further reforms make it unlikely that Ukraine will join NATO in the immediate future. However, its long-term prospects for membership remain open and will depend on how and when the war concludes, as well as when a consensus among NATO members is reached on the subject.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Currently, my greatest hobby and passion is spending time with my younger daughter. I also enjoy listening to music (classical and modern), reading, and cleaning. Classic literature and history are my favorite subjects. Traveling is another passion of mine. I love learning new languages; however, I unfortunately have no time for this at the moment. When I get the chance, I would like to improve my French and learn Spanish.

It’s time to start thinking about Model NATO. The annual event will be held February 20-23, 2025.

• Miljan, Lydia, “Media Coverage of Federal Spending Announcements on Child Care, Pharma Care, and Dental Care.” Fraser Institute Research Bulletin, October, 2024.

• Richez, Emmanuelle; Bratic, Petar, Special section titled "Harnessing the Untapped Potential of the Canadian Charter/Réaliser le potentiel inexploité de la Charte canadienne" in The Windsor Access to Justice Yearbook, 39, 2023.