Wendy H. Wong
I am a Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at the University of British Columbia. I have written two award-winning books, Internal Affairs (2012) and The Authority Trap (2017), with Sarah S. Stroup, both of which were published by Cornell University Press.
My new book by MIT Press “We, the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age” (awarded the 2024 Balsillie Prize) is out now!
“I’m a political scientist
- what I’m interested in is who has power,
why they have that power,
and what happens as a result of that distribution of power. ”
As an international relations scholar, I’m drawn to global issues dealing with human rights, the politics of governance and social order, and the emergence of a disruptive technology or ideas. I’m interested in the dynamics of collective action, why sometimes good ideas win, why sometimes they lose, and why when we study politics, we should be looking at political actors beyond governments.
Memberships & Affiliations
CURRENT
Professor and Principal's Research Chair, University of British Columbia
Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, University of Toronto
Associate Editor, Political Research Quarterly
Member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists
Editorial Board member, International Studies Review, Journal of Human Rights, and Journal of Global Security Studies
PAST
Research Lead, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, University of Toronto (2020-2022)
Director, Trudeau Center for Peace, Conflict, and Justice, University of Toronto (2012-2017)
Canada Research Chair in Global Governance and Civil Society, University of Toronto (2018-2024)
Research
I’m an political science professor interested in global politics. I work on issues related to the politics and ethics of emerging technologies like AI, human rights, global governance, and civil society. I’ve written two award-winning books and dozens of other academic pieces. I’m currently Associate Editor of Political Research Quarterly, a top-tier political science journal.
Books
Media
You can find me discussing issues related to emerging technologies and civil society in print media outlets, such as The Globe and Mail, The Conversation, and The Toronto Star. I’m also featured on the radio and podcasts, ranging from the CBC to the Financial Times’ Down to Business.
