Thazha Varkey Paul (born in 1956) is an Indo-Canadian political scientist. He is a James McGill professor of International Relations in the department of Political Science at McGill University. Paul specializes in International Relations, especially international security, regional security and South Asia. He served as the president of the International Studies Association (ISA) during 2016–2017, and served as the founding director of the McGill University – Université de Montreal Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS).

Background

Paul was born in Kerala, India. Paul received his undergraduate education from Kerala University, India in 1977. He completed his M. Phil in international studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in 1984. He subsequently earned a PhD in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991.

Career

Paul's book Power versus Prudence was selected as an 'Outstanding Academic Title for 2001' by the Choice Magazine and as a "Book for Understanding' by the Association of American University Presses. In March 2005 Maclean Magazine's Guide to Canadian Universities rated Paul as one of the "most popular Professors" at McGill University, and he became the recipient of the High Distinction in Research Award by McGill's Faculty of Arts in May 2005. In December 2009, Paul's book The Tradition of Non-use of Nuclear Weapons was selected by the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo for inclusion in the Peace Prize Laureate Exhibition honouring President Barack Obama. Paul was appointed as the editor of the Georgetown University Press book series: South Asia in World Affairs in 2010. He was the chair of ISA's International Security Section (ISSS) (2009–2011), and served as a Distinguished International Jury member of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, University of Louisville, in September 2012. He was also adjudged as Best Professor in International Relations Award, World Education Congress, Mumbai in June 2012 and was awarded KPS Menon Chair (Visiting) for Diplomatic Studies 2011–12, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs (CFIA) and the Olin Institute for Strategic Studies (1997–98), and a visiting associate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey (2002–2003). He was a visiting professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School (2002–03), Diplomatic Academy in Vienna (2014-present), Ritsumeikan University (2016), Ayoma Gakunin University (2017), and Nanyang Technological University (2017-2018). He served as the president of the International Studies Association (ISA) from 2016 to 2017. During his time as the president, he led a task force on improving conditions of Global South scholars in international studies. He was instated as a Senior Fellow at the Royal Society of Canada in November 2018. Paul is the founding director of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change (GRENPEC).

Books

Paul is the author or editor of over 21 books. He has also published nearly 75 journal articles and book chapters.

Edited Volumes

Selected Essays