Dr. Noah Schwartz is an assistant professor in the Political Science department at UFV, and author of Targeted: Citizenship, Advocacy, and Gun Control in Canada (2025)
On Oct. 1, UFV’s Political Science department hosted an interdisciplinary panel entitled “The World in Turmoil” at the Abbotsford campus in room B101. It brought together faculty and students to discuss global instability through diverse academic perspectives. Schwartz, who helps organize the PoliTalk series with department head Dr. Edward Akuffo, shared with The Cascade that while Akuffo is in charge, he often works behind the scenes.
“Even if I’m not one of the speakers, I’ll sometimes be doing the intro or something like that — make his job a bit easier.”
Schwartz spoke about how events like these help bring life back to campus, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the PoliTalk series began long before he arrived at UFV, and emphasized Akuffo’s role in giving it new energy.
“Professor Akuffo has really reinvigorated the series — he’s the driving force behind it.”
Schwartz commented that some views don’t get the attention they deserve in mainstream platforms, and these events give them room to be heard. The panel featured six faculty members from different departments who explored the forces driving today’s global conflicts: Dr. Opeyemi Adesina (Computing), Dr. Zoë Francis (Psychology), Dr. Michael Batu (Economics), Dr. Joy Enyinnaya (Communication), Dr. Keziah Wallis (Culture, Media, and Society) and Akuffo (Political Science).
Schwartz remarked how this panel helped create a space for complex, sometimes contradictory perspectives — encouraging students to think critically rather than accept a single narrative.
“None of this is intended to force a certain viewpoint down someone’s throat. We just want to expose people to the diversity of ideas that are present in a university.”
When asked about how the topics for The World in Turmoil were chosen, Schwartz explained that generally, the PoliTalk series aims to stay connected to current events. He added that the goal was to link people’s research and work with what students are seeing in the headlines.
“It helps spark conversation … and helps them make that connection between what they’re learning at university and why it really matters.”
Schwartz added that this panel was designed to reflect the unease many feel about the state of global politics — from wars in the Ukraine and the Middle East to political instability in the United States. He described it as the world shifting in a potentially wrong direction.
Schwartz expressed his own feelings of helplessness in global challenges like youth unemployment, democratic decline, and the climate crisis — even as someone with experience and stability in academia. He acknowledged that he couldn’t imagine the stress that must be affecting students. Schwartz said talks like these are invaluable because they help students connect what they’re learning to real-world challenges — especially when the world feels overwhelming.
“We want information and knowledge is power … Covering topics like these can help put the power back in students’ hands, and I think what we heard from a lot of our panellists was pretty empowering.”
While Schwartz wasn’t a panellist, he shared in the interview that one of the students’ questions resonated with him: “What can we do?” — a question born from the overwhelming sense of doom and gloom in today’s news.
In response, Schwartz encouraged students to take action in whatever way they can. From joining a group to writing to their MP, these steps can help influence change.
“All the big changes that have happened in society and in politics have really been driven by civil society. All politicians want to get re-elected. They don’t necessarily like to rock the boat. They have to be pushed to do things, and that push comes from ordinary people acting collectively.”
For Schwartz, taking action is the most effective way to counter feelings of helplessness and despair.
“Doing something is the ultimate antidote to that feeling of hopelessness. In my experience, at least.”
Schwartz shared what students can expect from future events. On Oct. 29, he’ll host a celebration for the launch of his new book, Targeted, featuring a reading by Associate Professor Stanislav Vysotsky. Then, on Nov. 19, the PoliTalk series continues with a discussion on Canadian politics. Schwartz also emphasized its relevance for all students — not just those in political science.
“This is the system that you live in and that in a few years [you will] be graduating into … I think it’s so important that people get an understanding of what’s going on and these factors that are going to shape [their lives].”
With more events on the horizon, PoliTalk continues to offer UFV students a space to engage critically with the world — and with each other.
