Two-day conference to dissect U.S. election at UdeM's international studies centre

Are Americans ready to change history? On November 4, U.S. voters will be asked to choose between another Republican versus a Democrat who may become the country’s first black president. Given the crumbling economy and multiple stakes, a group of experts is gathering to discuss the historic election during a two-day conference entitled, “Hard choices for the next American president – the stakes and impact.”

Organized by the international studies centre of the Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM), the event’s keynote speaker will be David Mendell, a journalist for the Chicago Tribune who authored Barack Obama: From Promise to Power (HarperCollins Publishers). Media should note that Mr. Mendell will be available for pre-interviews on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

• What: “Hard choices for the next American president – the stakes and impact”
• When: October 30 and 31, 2008
• Where: Université de Montréal

The event’s MC will be Jean-François Lisée, executive director of the CÉRIUM. Pierre Martin, Université de Montréal Chair in American Political and Economic Studies, will moderate a panel by University of Pennsylvania Professor Richard Johnston on the dynamics of the U.S. campaign.

Jody Heymann and Antonia Maioni, both McGill University professors, will review U.S. social and health policy questions.

American security will be dissected by University of Saskatchewan Professor Daniel Béland and the impact of the U.S. election on Canada will be reviewed by former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Raymond Chrétien and Queen’s professor David Haglund.

The American economy will be examined by Université Laval Professor Louis Bélanger, Desjardins Group Senior Economist Francis Généreux and Michael Hawes, director of the Network on North American Studies in Canada.

U.S. environmental and energy issues will be addressed by University of Toronto Professor John Kirton, UQAM Professor Albert Legault.

Complete lecture details and additional speakers can be consulted at www.cerium.ca/L-Amerique-du-nouveau-president.

For more information :
Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins
International press attaché
Université de Montréal
Telephone: 514-343-7593
Email: sylvain-jacques.desjardins@umontreal.ca