Assistant Professor, Political Science
Ph.D.: McMaster University (2020)
M.A.: University of Ottawa (2015)
B.Soc.Sci.: University of Ottawa (2012)
Office: Plaza 353
905-688-5550 x3987
lmidzaingobin@brocku.ca
Dr. Midzain-Gobin is a settler scholar whose research focuses on the production and continual remaking of settler coloniality, and Indigenous governance practices, studying Indigenous-settler relationships as a form of international politics. His major research project studies the ways that settler colonial ordering is shaped and made possible by knowledge production, but also contested by Indigenous ways of knowing. His work analyzes settler policymaking, showing how knowledge is both produced and also productive. What we ‘know’ is not only framed by the cosmologies and ontologies through which we make meaning of the world, but it also serves as an organizing tool, structuring what interventions we imagine to be possible.
Dr. Midzain-Gobin’s broader research interests are drawn from his background in critical international relations theory, and especially decolonial theory. Working as a settler, Dr. Midzain-Gobin seeks to employ community-engaged methods to support Indigenous self-determination in order to build a decolonized future. In addition to his work on settler policymaking, Dr. Midzain-Gobin has published research on Indigenous bordering practices, settler mythologizing of Canada as a non-colonial power, and been part of a research team studying the impact of digital technology on First Nations elections and decision-making.
In addition to his research, Dr. Midzain-Gobin teaching interests are in the areas of research methods and citizenship. He has also held positions as a policy analyst in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion and as a program officer in the federal public service.
Areas of specialization:
Indigenous politics; Settler colonialism; Coloniality; Indigenous-settler relationships; Critical approaches to international politics; Decolonial political and international thought
Peer reviewed:
- Midzain-Gobin, L. & Dunton, C. 2021. “Renewing Relationships? Solitudes, Decolonization, and Feminist International Policy.” Millennium: Journal of International Studies. doi: 10.1177/03058298211050956. Online First: https://doi-org/10.1177/03058298211050956
- McEvoy, J. & Midzain-Gobin, L. 2021. “Embedded Bordering: Territorial Authority, Indigenous Utilities, and Settler Colonialism in British Columbia.” Borderlands: Vol. 20, No. 1, pgs. 140-170. doi: 10.21307/borderlands-2021-006 Available: https://www.exeley.com/borderlands/doi/10.21307/borderlands-2021-006
- Midzain-Gobin, L. 2021. “Legibility, Misrecognition and the Aboriginal Peoples Survey: Understanding Knowledge Production as a Settler Colonial Project.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. doi: 10.1080/01419870.2021.1952288. OnlineFirst: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01419870.2021.1952288
- Midzain-Gobin, L. 2021. “Comfort and Insecurity in the Reproduction of Settler Coloniality.” Critical Studies on Security. doi: 10.1080/21624887.2021.1936834. OnlineFirst: https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2021.1936834
- Midzain-Gobin, L. & Smith, H. 2020. “Debunking the Myth of Canada as a Non-Colonial Power.” American Review of Canadian Studies Vol. 50, No. 4, pgs. 479-497 doi: 10.1080/02722011.2020.1849329
- Midzain-Gobin, L. 2019. “‘Come out and live on your land again’: Sovereignty, Borders and the Unist’ot’en Camp.” International Journal of Migration and Border Studies Vol. 5, No. 1/2, pgs. 12-28. doi: 10.1504/IJMBS.2019.099684
- Budd, B., Midzain-Gobin, L., Gabel, C. & Goodman, N. 2019. “Digital Democracy and Self-Determination: Lessons from First Nations in Canada.” McMaster Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition Working Paper Series Special Issue on Digital Democracy (ed. Porter, T., Bannerman, S. and Tan, N.), pgs. 14-18. Available at: https://globalization.mcmaster.ca/research/publications/working-papers/2019/working-paper-oct-2019.pdf
Non-peer reviewed:
- Midzain-Gobin, L. “Federal election: Canada’s next government should shift from reconciliation to decolonization and Indigenous self-determination.” The Conversation. September 6, 2021. Available : https://theconversation.com/federal-election-canadas-next-government-should-shift-from-reconciliation-to-decolonization-and-indigenous-self-determination-166225
- Tay-Burroughs, R., L. Midzain-Gobin and C. Dunton. “Shifting the relationship between provinces and First Nations to a diplomatic focus.” Policy Options. August 17, 2021. Available: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/august-2021/shifting-the-relationship-between-provinces-and-first-nations-to-a-diplomatic-focus/
- Midzain-Gobin, L. & H. Smith. “Not in the past: Colonialism is rooted in the present.” The Conversation. March 28, 2021. Available: https://theconversation.com/not-in-the-past-colonialism-is-rooted-in-the-present-157395
- Midzain-Gobin, L. “Reimagining the Mosaic” in APSA International History and Politics section Fall 2020 newsletter roundtable: “Race, Indigeneity, and the Global South in IHAP: Missed Opportunities and Possible Futures.” Vol. 6, Issue 2. Fall 2020. Available: https://connect.apsanet.org/s34/newsletters/
- Midzain-Gobin, L. “Internationalism, Reconstruction, and Indigenous Futurity.”. Legal Form. June 22, 2020. https://legalform.blog/2020/06/22/nick-estes-review-liam-midzain-gobin/
- Budd, B. & Midzain-Gobin, L. “Unist’ot’en and the limits of reconciliation in Canada.” The Conversation. January 20, 2019. https://theconversation.com/unistoten-and-the-limits-of-reconciliation-in-canada-109704
- Midzain-Gobin, L. “Decolonizing Borders.” E-International Relations. January 12, 2019. https://www.e-ir.info/2019/01/12/decolonizing-borders/
- Midzain-Gobin, L et al. “Reforming the Indian Act to allow for online voting.” Policy Options. October 12, 2017. http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2017/reforming-the-indian-act-to-allow-for-online-voting/
- Midzain-Gobin, L. “Let’s focus on dignity and care as we emerge from COVID-19.” Hamilton Spectator. June 7, 2020. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2020/06/07/lets-focus-on-dignity-and-care-as-we-emerge-from-covid-19.html
Courses taught:
- POLI 2F20: Introduction to International Relations
- POLI 2P80: Political Analysis
- POLI 3P14: Indigenous Politics in Canada
- POLI 3P96: Global Indigenous Politics
- POLI 4v80 (4P37): Special Topics in Indigenous Politics
Dr. Midzain-Gobin is open to supervising graduate student research projects in the following fields:
- Indigenous politics
- Settler Colonialism
- Critical and/or decolonial international politics
