Political studies Prof. Richard Sigurdson was recently named Duff Roblin Professor of Government after completing his term as dean of Arts.

He has published articles and book chapters on the Canadian Charter of Rights, the collective rights of First Peoples and immigration and citizenship issues pertaining to rights. His recent research involves the theory and comparative politics of nationalism, and it focuses on such issues as the rights of migrants, the right to national self-determination and minority rights in diverse societies.

Sigurdson is completing a book on nationalism. He was also a member of the 2008 Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission.

Sigurdson has maintained a dual interest in political theory – looking at European thinkers – and Canadian politics – looking at issues from the Charter of Rights to party politics. It creates the added challenge of trying to stay abreast of two fields.

“For me the whole appeal of academic life is the ability to follow your interests wherever they are. You can do research in fields you find compelling,” he said.

“Students always ask, ‘What courses should I take?’ I tell them to take the courses they’re most interested in, rather than those they think they should take for some other reason. Students will have a much better university experience if they go where their heart takes them,” said Sigurdson, who completed his first two degrees at U of M before a PhD at University of Toronto.

A new teaching award for junior faculty was named after him in 2005 at Thompson Rivers University, where he used to work.