Discussion of “The Adaptable Country” in Policy Options
My forthcoming book from McGill-Queen’s University Press, The Adaptable Country, is discussed in this new article by Kathryn May in Policy Options magazine:
Dec 8
Nov 28
“The Adaptable Country” now published by MQUP
My book The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, is now available from McGill-Queen’s University Press, in the Canadian Essentials series edited by Professor Daniel Béland. The cover design is by David Drummond.
Order on Amazon (United States)
Order on Amazon (Canada)
Download frontmatter and preface here.
From the publisher: Adaptability is the overlooked key to Canada’s survival in turbulent times. Shifting geopolitics, regional conflicts, climate change, and technology shocks: these are just some of the factors that will make the twenty-first century dangerous for Canada. Adaptability, the capacity to anticipate and manage dangers, is essential for the country to survive and thrive. But Canada is not as adaptable as it once was.
Read moreCommentary on human rights and public administration
The following commentary is from a roundtable about the relationship between public administration and human rights published in Perspectives in Public Management and Governance in November 2023. Access the roundtable here.
Three Frontiers, Three Barriers
Alasdair Roberts
What is the point of public administration? What larger good are we trying to accomplish, as scholars and practitioners in this field? We do not talk about these questions as much as we should. In the United States especially, the field of public administration has shifted its focus away from macro-level questions about the role of the state. One result is that we lack a shared vocabulary—an inventory of concepts—that allows us to talk about these larger goals.
Read moreInterview about “Superstates”
I enjoyed speaking with Anotida Chikumbu about my book, Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century. Watch the twenty-minute conversation on YouTube.
Oct 21
Sources for Montreal Gazette op-ed
For reference, some of the older sources mentioned in my October 30, 2024 op-ed in the Montreal Gazette:
“gouging out your eyes”: Calgary Herald, 26 February 1992, A6.
“shooting itself in the head”: Proceedings of the House of Commons Committee on Bill C-63, June 10, 1992.
“important to the country’s prosperity”: Ottawa Citizen, 27 February 1992, 5.
Interview on “The Future Of” podcast
I enjoyed speaking with Owen Bennett-Jones for his “The Future Of” podcast, about my book Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century. The interview is available here.
Quoted in Policy Option article
My comments on the need for a broad review of the role and structure of the Canadian federal public service, are included in this Policy Options piece by Kathryn May.
AUC Policy Brief on adaptable government
I’ve written a Policy Brief on adaptable government for the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at American University Cairo. Download the policy brief here. This is based on my current book project, The Adaptable Country.
Superstates discussed in Policy Options magazine
On the Policy Options website, Mark Robbins discusses my book Superstates: “Superstates offers clever insights about the conduct of public administration. . . . It also makes important connections between tactical issues of public administration and the longer-term implications for its nature and structure.” Read the article.
CSPS lecture on adaptable government
On June 22, I delivered the 2023 Jocelyne Bourgon Visiting Scholar lecture at the Canada School of Public Service. More information here.
Alasdair S. Roberts 
