معرفی
Paul Cohen is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Toronto, serving as MA Coordinator and interim Associate Chair of the Graduate Program. He holds cross-appointments with the Centre for the Study of France and the Francophone World, which he currently directs. A historian of early modern France, his research focuses on nation-state formation, linguistic history, and colonial empires. Cohen earned his PhD from Princeton University and previously taught at Université Paris-8. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary issues, including higher education reform in France, postwar economic planning, and the cultural politics of food and wine. His major publications explore the evolution of French as a national language and the linguistic dynamics of French colonial spaces in North America and the maritime world.
Education: PhD in History from Princeton University.
Research Interests: Cohen’s interdisciplinary research spans the social history of languages, the creation of national identity, and empire studies. He examines how linguistic diversity was managed in early modern France and its colonies, analyzing documents ranging from legal records to travelogues. His current projects include a study of linguistic mediation in French North America and the global maritime linguistic cultures of the 17th-18th centuries. He also engages with contemporary debates on Francophone cultural policies and the role of history in modern French society.
Advising & Grants: While no current students are listed, Cohen has advised numerous graduate students through his role as MA Coordinator. His grants and institutional leadership include directing the Centre for the Study of France, fostering collaborative research on Francophone cultural and political dynamics.
Labs/Teams: Leads the Centre for the Study of France and the Francophone World, a hub for interdisciplinary scholarship on French and Francophone cultures, history, and contemporary issues.
