Faculty Focus-March 25, 2025
Faculty members put their knowledge into action so students and others are able to benefit from it. Recently, faculty published essays in world-renowned newspapers and published new textbooks that move their discipline forward.
Howard Eissenstat
Laurentian Associate Professor and Chair of History Howard Eissenstat spoke to Berlin newspaper, Der Tagesspiegel, about the ways in which Europe is reaching out to Turkey as a strategic partner in the wake of President Trump's presidency.
He also recently spoke to the newspaper about Turkish president Erdogan's calculations and the risks involved in the arrest of popular Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is Erdogan's most likely rival if there are new elections.
Mert Kartal
Associate Professor of Political Science Mert Kartal, in his latest contribution to the prominent political science platform Good Authority, explores the question of whether Canada could join the EU.
Kartal argues that Canada could make a plausible case for eligibility, but the real question is whether it would even want to apply for membership. He also discusses alternative, potentially more effective ways to strengthen EU-Canada ties.
Kartal was selected as a Good Authority fellow last month, and will be making regular contributions over the next year.
Zhenjun Zhang
Professor and Co-chair of World Languages, Cultures, and Media and Coordinator of Asian Studies Zhenjun Zhang recently published a textbook, “Chinese Culture through Legends and Fiction,” which was written especially for his course “Asia 232: Chinese Culture through Fiction and Film.”
This volume is a collection of selected and translated Chinese legends and tales arranged under specific topics important to Chinese culture, with an introduction and reading guide for each piece.
Comprised of four parts covering Confucian culture, Daoist culture, Buddhist culture and topics beyond the Three Teachings, the sources featured in this anthology include legends, fictional works, historical texts, as well as philosophical texts of ancient China, ranging from the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
Helping readers learn about Chinese customs, traditions, and values by immersing them in the wonderful world of traditional China, with the compelling legends and tales revealing the fascinating network of Chinese culture, this book is an invaluable text for students and scholars of Chinese literature, culture and history, as well as general readers with an interest in China.
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St. Lawrence’s Faculty Focus is a regular roundup of noteworthy faculty news.
