Stanfield Fellows

Dr. Rachael Johnstone was appointed in 2024 as the Stanfield Fellow, following the inaugural fellows Dr. Kiran Banerjee and Dr. Scott Pruysers. The Stanfield Fellows are an integral part of the Stanfield Conversations: Talking Democracy series. The Fellow will organize a master class for Dalhousie students with the Conversation's featured speakers, author publications, contribute to the development of yearly themes, and support the organization of the series. 

RT. HON. ROBERT L. STANFIELD LECTURES FELLOW

Rachael Johnstone is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Dalhousie University. Her research explores intersections between Canadian politics, public policy, and law. To date, her work has focused predominantly on reproductive rights, exploring the ways they have been shaped through federalism, the Charter, public policy, and social movement activity. This work includes a book, After Morgentaler: The Politics of Abortion in Canada, published by UBC Press in 2017, which investigates the political, legal, medical, and social regulation of abortion following the landmark R. v. Morgentaler decision (1988) that decriminalized abortion in Canada. More recently, with support from a SSHRC Insight Development Grant, she has begun exploring reproductive politics as it is experienced by politicians themselves. The right to qualify as a representative in public office in one of democracy’s fundamental rights, but equality issues relating to reproduction continue to plague these offices. She is currently working on a manuscript, Baby Steps? Towards Family Friendly Legislatures, which asks what family-friendly legislatures can and should look like. In what ways might institutions and policies change in pursuit of inclusivity? And, if they cannot change, exactly how democratic are our institutions?