Academic Background

• B.Th. (Theology) Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now: CMU), 1979

• B.A. (History) University of Winnipeg, 1980

• M.Div. Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1984

• M.A. (History), University of Waterloo, 1988

• Ph.D. (History), University of Waterloo, 1995

• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, Victoria University / University of Toronto, 1995-1996
  

Research Interests:

Military Oaths and Conflict
Citizenship Oaths and National Consciousness
Religion and War and Peace
Global Citizenship
Global Ethics
Religion and Political Structures

Teaching Interests:

Global Ethics
Global Citizenship
War and Peace
Disarmament
Globalization
Religion and Conflict

2012-2013 Courses:

Fall 2012

GS 400L: International Humanitarian Law
            Class Schedule / Location: Mondays 2:30 – 5:20 pm in DAWB 3-103 
GS 331: Contemporary Global Conflicts   
            Class Schedule / Location: Thursdays 4:00 – 6:50 am in Arts 2C15 
GS 435: Disarming Conflict: Weapons of War and the Quest for Peace
            Class Schedule / Location: Tuesdays 10:00 – 12:50 am in BA 306 

Winter 2013
GS 400L: International Humanitarian Law (cont'd)
            Class Schedule / Location: Mondays 2:30– 5:20 pm in DAWB 3-103 
GS 221: Globalization of Cultures: The Cosmopolitan Village?    
            Class Schedule / Location: Fridays 12:30 – 2:20 am in Peters 1025/1027 plus Tutorials                                 on Wednesdays

2013-2014 Courses:

Fall 2013

GS 340G: Religion and Peace
            Class Schedule / Location: Mondays 7:00 – 9:50 pm in Arts 2C16
GS 399: Post-Field Placement
            Class Schedule / Location: Tuesdays 2:30 – 5:20 pm in Bricker BA306
GS 435: Disarming Conflict: Weapons of War and the Quest for Peace 
            Class Schedule / Location: Fridays 8:30 – 11:20 am in DAWB 1-101B

Winter 2014
GS 221: Globalization and Cultures: The Cosmopolitan Village?
            Class Schedule / Location: Wednesdays 7:00 – 8:50 pm in Bricker BA101 plus Tutorials
GS 305: The Individualized World    
            Class Schedule / Location: Tuesdays 4:00 – 6:50 pm in DAWB 2-105

Biography

Edmund Pries was born into a refugee family. His parents were born in Ukraine, Edmund was born in Paraguay, and all six of his younger siblings were born in Winnipeg, Manitoba – where Edmund grew up as a child of his beloved Canadian Prairies. Being born into a globalized family environment helped him understand that education and knowledge (like faith) are among the most transportable “assets” available to people and provide an opportunity to enter into global discourse wherever one settles. It also permits a person to become a true global citizen. 

Edmund has worked several careers simultaneously or successively, as a member of the clergy, as the founder / owner of a successful business, and as a university instructor and academic. While he remains active in all three fields to varying degrees, his recent focus, especially, has shifted back to academia. He continues to research, write and present papers at conferences. His first love in all of this, however, is teaching. In 2011, Edmund was awarded the Wilfrid Laurier University Award for Teaching Excellence. (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/15244523 Response address begins at minute 26:38.)

Edmund has also served as chair of a university college board and as consultant for the founding of a new university in Brantford (the future Laurier Brantford). Edmund currently serves as the Conference Chair for the Peace and Justice Studies Association (of North America).

Selected Recent Conference Presentations:

“Restraining Warfare: Breaching the Insuperability of Military Oaths” at Peace Science Society-International Studies Association Conference, Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary (June 27, 2013). Forthcoming.

“Proliferation of Sworn Promises: Environmental Oaths and Pledges” at Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (October 4-6, 2012).

“Refusal of Military Oaths from World War II to the Present: An Appraisal” at Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference, Memphis, Tennessee (October 21-23, 2011).

“Gender Equality and a Global Citizenship Code of Ethics?” at Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba (October 1, 2010).

“Global Citizenship: From Ancient Oath (Refusal) to Code of Ethics” at Thinking With(Out) Borders II Conference: The St. Andrews International Political Theory Conference, St. Andrews, Scotland (July 1, 2010).

Selected Op-Ed Articles since 2008:

“Taxpayers vs. Citizens.” Toronto Star (September 15, 2011). http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1054802--taxpayers-vs-citizens.

“Apocalyptic Crisis Budgeting.” Toronto Star (August 12, 2011). http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1038961--apocalyptic-crisis-budgeting.

“F-35 Jets Aren’t a Good Buy.” Waterloo Region Record (December 29, 2010). http://www.therecord.com/opinion/editorial/article/306568--f-35-jets-aren-t-a-good-buy.

“Laurier Brantford and south Colborne: A match made for history.” Brantford Expositor (February 13, 2010). http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2448353.

“Not All Stimulus is Created Equal.” Toronto Star (December 17, 2008). http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/555006.

“[Prime Minister] Harper’s Scofflaw Election Strategy.” Toronto Star (September 6, 2008). http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/491837.

Additional Information

Watch a video of Dr. Pries:

Student “Lend Your Leg” Event Notes – with Thanks:

Congratulations and thanks to all the students of GS 221 for your successful “Lend Your Leg” awareness-raising campaign (“Laurier Lend Your Leg 2013”) to mark International Day for Mine Awareness on April 4, 2013. This was Laurier’s Second Annual Lend Your Leg event. Special thanks to Niki Kermani, Caleb Okwubido-Williams, Jackie Laface, Lauren Freeman and Natasha Rhab for organizing and leading the planning and activities for that day. A special note of thanks also to Prince David Okebalama for his expert production of the following video of the Lend Your Leg rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOVFA0ESs0c&nofeather=True.

For Photos of the event, see: https://www.facebook.com/LendYourLegLaurier

Special Event in Fall 2013:

The Annual Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference to be held at Wilfrid Laurier University, October 17-19

The Peace and Justice Studies Association is the North American affiliate of the International Peace Research Association. See: www.peacejusticestudies.org.

Deadline (Extended) for Proposals (papers and workshops): April 30, 2013.

Three Conferences in one:

1. Main Academic Conference

2. Teachers’ Professional Development Strand

3. Student Conference

Keynote Speakers to be announced very soon.

PJSA Annual Awards Banquet – Friday Evening

Saturday Evening, October 19, 2013: Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem to be performed at Centre in the Square by the Grand Philharmonic Choir and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. Tickets available.