Leslie Thayer
Intern
Leslie Thayer studied political science with a concentration on democratic institutions in East/Central Europe in her undergrad. Currently she is completing a Master‘s in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University.
Her study abroad experiences have taken her to several different places including the UK, Poland, Italy, and Hawaii. These experiences have helped to shape her research, including her undergrad thesis on Democratic Backsliding in Poland and other East/Central European countries and religion’s role in peace in the world, which is what she hopes to write her dissertation on this year.
Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Annual Report 2024
We find ourselves in a cultural moment of uncertainty as domestic and global challenges persist. Whether it is the cost of living crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leadership is required more than ever and the importance of peace building critical. This year has been dubbed the year of voting, with more than two billion people heading to the polls in 2024. Quite simply, it is the biggest election year in history. And yet, democracy has never felt so fragile; it seems to be on the ballot itself.
