Benjamin Forest

Benjamin Forest is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at McGill University, with affiliations in the Department of Political Science and the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship. He holds a PhD in Geography from UCLA (1997). His research focuses on political representation, electoral geography, and the role of monuments in shaping national identity. Notable projects include the Post-Communist Monuments Project and studies on boundary commissions’ impact on political communities.

Educational background: PhD in Geography from UCLA (1997). Current roles include Associate Member in Political Science and Research Fellow at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (2021-2025). Teaching responsibilities include courses like Political Geography, Urban Geography, and Memory/Place/Power.

Research emphasizes spatial analysis of political representation, post-Soviet national identity through monuments, and electoral system dynamics. Recent work explores Canada’s 2022 federal redistricting and minority representation strategies.

Grants include SSHRC funding for projects on candidate diversity and minority representation. Active in academic associations like the Association of American Geographers. Directs graduate supervision focused on funded research projects in political geography and ethnic studies.

Labs/Initiatives: Leads the Post-Communist Monuments Project database documenting 26 post-Soviet states’ memorial landscapes. Collaborates with Juliet Johnson on national identity studies and Mike Medeiros on electoral reform proposals.