Edmund Pries

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Email: epries@wlu.ca | epries@citycorp.ca
Phone: (519) 884-1970 ext.4593
Other Phone: 519-578-0003

Office Location: DAWB 5-120B (beside DAWB 5-120)
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1-3pm and by appointment

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 Conflict
Peace and Religion
Global Citizenship
Global Ethics
Religion and Political Structures: Catalysts for Peace or Conflict?

Teaching Interests:

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

2011-2012 Courses:

Fall 2011
GS 405N: International Humanitarian Law
            Class Schedule / Location: Thursdays 2:30 – 5:20 am in DAWB 2-105
            Course Outline (Syllabus) link: Forthcoming
GS 411: Global Justice
            Class Schedule / Location: Wednesdays 8:30 – 11:20 am in DAWB 3-105
            Course Outline (Syllabus) link: Forthcoming
GS 435: Disarming Conflict: Weapons of War and the Quest for Peace
            Class Schedule / Location: Tuesdays 10:00 – 12:50 am in BA 306
            Course Outline (Syllabus) link: Forthcoming

Winter 2012
GS 340B: Global Citizenship
            Class Schedule / Location: Thursdays 7:00 – 9:50 pm in DAWB 2-108
            Course Outline (Syllabus) link: Forthcoming
GS 421: Ethical Encounters
            Class Schedule / Location: Thursdays 8:30 – 11:20 am in DAWB 4-105
            Course Outline (Syllabus) link: Forthcoming

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). Beginning in October 2011, Edmund will take over as the Conference Coordinator on the executive of the Peace and Justice Studies Association (of North America).

Recent Conference Presentations:

“Disarmament and Militarization in Canada - A Look at the Current Situation” at Global Citizenship Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University (March 5, 2011).

“GCC - 2011 - Refugees to Canada” at Global Citizenship Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University (March 5, 2011).

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

“The Prorogation of the Canadian Parliament: What does it mean?” at Global Citizenship Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University (January 24, 2010).

“Canada as a Peacekeeping Nation: Myth or Reality?” at Global Citizenship Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University (January 23, 2010).

Selected Op-Ed Articles since 2008:

“Mennonites and ‘Illegal’ Refugees Part II: Civil Law versus Divine Law.”  Canadian Mennonite – Web Published, March 24, 2011. http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/mennonites-and-“illegal”-refugees-part-ii-civil-law-versus-divine-law.

“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.

“Let Them Stay”  Canadian Mennonite. Vol. 14. No. 18 (September 20, 2010).  http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/let-them-stay. On the similarities between Mennonite and Tamil refugee history.

“Laurier Brantford and south Colborne: A match made for history.” Brantford Expositor (February 13, 2010). http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2448353. On the City of Brantford’s attempt to destroy 41 heritage buildings– and a commentary that if I and others had taken that approach, there would not be a university in Brantford.

“Not All Stimulus is Created Equal.” Toronto Star (December 17, 2008). http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/555006. On the employment creation benefits per economic sector based on per billion dollars of government investment – and how investing in the military produces the lowest job creation results.

“[Prime Minister] Harper’s Scofflaw Election Strategy.” Toronto Star (September 6, 2008). http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/491837. On the Prime Minister’s decision to break his fixed date election law in order to call an election based on political opportunity.

Additional Information