Dr. Michael MacKenzie
Dr. MacKenzie has spent the past 20 years studying and writing about democracy. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of British Columbia (2013), a master’s in political science and social statistics from McGill University (2006), and a bachelor of arts in politics from the University of Winnipeg (2004). In 2006-07 he worked as a policy analyst and facilitator with the Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. He was a Democracy Fellow and post-doctoral researcher at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School (2013-15) before joining the Department of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor and later an Associate Professor (2015-23).
At VIU he will serve as the inaugural Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership. In this position, he will work with four other Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership at universities in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. The long-term goal of this network of five endowed chairs is to develop educational programming and training for future leaders. The programming will focus on trust and ethical practice in governance and political leadership.
“I hope to help make the network of Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership a prominent and valuable resource in public discussions about democracy in Canada and elsewhere,” said MacKenzie. “Jarislowsky’s idea to create a national network of Chairs is itself an innovative bit of leadership. Most endowed university chairs are not formally networked with other research chairs. This network will provide future leaders with opportunities to learn about different aspects of our vast and diverse country.”
“I plan to leverage the prominence and resources associated with this position to make substantive, positive contributions to how democracy is understood and practiced in Canada,” said MacKenzie. “Over time, I have come to think that political knowledge, deliberation, trust, effective leadership and robust democratic institutions are needed if we are going to make our shared futures together in intentional ways.”
Dr. MacKenzie’s research interests include democratic theory and practice, intergenerational relations, deliberation, Canadian politics, environmental policy, political representation, institutional design, and public engagement.
Recent Publications:
Books:
MacKenzie, M. K., Setälä, M., & Kyllönen, S. (Eds.) (2023). Democracy and the Future: Future-Regarding Governance in Democratic Systems. Edinburgh University Press.
MacKenzie, M. K. (2021). Future Publics: Democracy, Deliberation, and Future-Regarding Collective Action. Oxford University Press.
Chapters and Articles:
MacKenzie, M. K. (2023) ‘Representation and Citizens’ Assemblies’ In Reuchamps, M., Vrydagh, J. & Welp, Y. (2023) De Gruyter Handbook on Citizens’ Assemblies. De Gruyter Publishing.
Kyllönen, S., MacKenzie, M.K. & Setälä, M. (2023). ‘Introduction: The Challenges and Possibilities of Future-Regarding Governance.’ In MacKenzie, M. K., Setälä, M., & Kyllönen, S. (Eds.) (2023). Democracy and the Future: Future-Regarding Governance in Democratic Systems. Edinburgh University Press.
MacKenzie, M. K. (2023). ‘Future-Regarding Democratic Leadership.’ In MacKenzie, M. K., Setälä, M., & Kyllönen, S. (Eds.) (2023). Democracy and the Future: Future-Regarding Governance in Democratic Systems. Edinburgh University Press.
MacKenzie, M. K., Kyllönen, S. & Setälä, M. (2023). ‘Conclusion: Future-Regarding Governance – Four Tensions and a Research Agenda.’ In MacKenzie, M. K., Setälä, M., & Kyllönen, S. (Eds.) (2023). Democracy and the Future: Future-Regarding Governance in Democratic Systems. Edinburgh University Press.
Fournier-Tombs, E. & MacKenzie, M. K. ( 2021). ‘Big Data and Democratic Speech: Predicting Deliberative Quality using Machine Learning Techniques.’ Methodological Innovations. 14(2): 1-15.
MacKenzie, M. K., & Caluwaerts, D. (2021). 'Paying for the Future: Deliberation and Support for Climate Action Policies.' Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 23(3): 317-331.
MacKenzie, M. K. (2021). ‘There is No Such Thing as a Short-Term Issue.’ Futures. 125 (Article 102652).
MacKenzie, M. K. (2021) 'Democratic Philanthropy.’ Contemporary Political Theory. 20, 568–590.
Moore, A., & MacKenzie, M.K. (2020). ‘Policymaking During Crises: How Diversity and Disagreement Can Help Manage the Politics of Expert Advice.’ The British Medical Journal. 371(m4039).
MacKenzie, M. K. & Moore, A. (2020) 'Democratic Non-Participation.’ Polity. 52(3): 430–459. (Winner of the 2020 Polity Prize and the 2017 Best Paper Award at the Pennsylvania Political Science Association Annual Conference.)
Courses:
Fall 2023: POLI 345: Democratic Theory and Practice
Spring 2024: POLI 440: Contemporary Themes in Political Thought: Trust and Leadership
Contact Information
Building 355 Room 320
Email: Michael.MacKenzie@viu.ca