Daniel Westlake

Daniel Westlake is an Assistant Professor of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan and holds a cross-appointment at Queen’s University as a former Postdoctoral Fellow. He specializes in Canadian and comparative politics, with a focus on multiculturalism policy, immigration, political parties, and far-right dynamics. His work bridges academic research with practical policy analysis through his role as a consultant researcher at Politikos Research.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science (UBC)
• Prior positions: Assistant Professor (U of Saskatchewan), Postdoctoral Fellow (Queen’s), Teaching Position (UVic)

Research Interests: Combines quantitative methods and textual analysis to examine multiculturalism policy evolution, party competition in diverse societies, and the interplay between far-right movements and mainstream politics. Current projects include global pluralism monitoring via the Global Pluralism Monitor and analysis of union influence on Canadian electoral behavior.

Key Trends in Publications: Recent work emphasizes multiculturalism policy persistence in Europe, electoral coalition strategies among working-class voters, and the impact of far-right pressures on left-wing parties. His 2021 award-winning article explored how mainstream parties adjust multiculturalism policies in response to right-wing challengers.

Awards:

• 2021 John McMenemy Prize (Canadian Journal of Political Science)

Advising/Grants: Supervised by Eleanor MacDonald (Political Studies). Active in media commentary and expert testimony on immigration and election issues.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Global Centre for Pluralism and Politikos Research, contributing to applied policy research and public discourse on pluralism and democratic governance.