W. Andy Knight

W. Andy Knight is a distinguished Professor of International Relations in the Political Science Department at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Arts. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) and was awarded the University of Alberta's highest honor - the University of Alberta Distinguished Professor in 2021. Knight also served as the 2021-22 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International and Area Studies at Yale University. Previously, he was the Director of the Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, and co-founder of the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean.

Professor Knight's educational background includes a PhD, MA, and Hons BA. His academic journey has led him to become a globally recognized scholar in international relations, with numerous leadership roles including past Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Alberta.

Professor Knight's research focuses on International Relations, International Organization, United Nations System, Global Governance and Multilateralism, Global Security, Human Rights, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Small Island States, Sub-Altern Peoples, and Terrorism. His work examines critical issues such as global health governance, global health security, Children and war, Piracy in the Horn of Africa, Hegemony, Democracy and Good Governance, and the vulnerabilities and resiliency of small island developing states (SIDS). His current research at Yale University tackles the issue of Summative Global Governance in an intermestic era.

Professor Knight's recent scholarly output demonstrates a clear trend toward examining global security challenges through interdisciplinary lenses, with particular attention to health security, regional governance in Africa and the Caribbean, and the evolving nature of international cooperation in the 21st century. His work increasingly bridges traditional international relations theory with practical policy applications, especially in the areas of pandemic response and health diplomacy.

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC)
• University of Alberta Distinguished Professor (2021)
• Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International and Area Studies at Yale University (2021-22)
• Harry Jerome Trailblazer by the Black Business and Professional Association of Canada
• Named by Venture Magazine among Alberta's top 50 most influential people

Professor Knight has served as Co-editor in Chief of both African Security journal and International Journal. He has supervised numerous graduate students and currently welcomes honours undergraduate, MA, and PhD students interested in multilateralism, regionalism, hegemonic transition, small and subaltern states, Statelessness, children and armed conflict, R2P, extremism, counter-terrorism, female suicide terrorism, human security, human rights and human dignity. His service includes appointments on the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) from 2007-2011 and advisory roles with the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on the Welfare of Children.

Professor Knight leads significant research initiatives including his current work on Summative Global Governance at Yale University. He is deeply involved with the Caribbean Journal of International Relations and Diplomacy, which he helped establish during his time at the University of the West Indies. His collaborative work spans multiple institutions and disciplines, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.