# John Kirton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Kirton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/John_Kirton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kirton > Source revision: 1336917041 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the Scottish footballer, see [Jock Kirton](/source/Jock_Kirton). Founder and director of G7 and G20 Research Groups (born 1948) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) John James Kirton **John James Kirton** (born 1948)[1] is a professor [emeritus](/source/Emeritus) of [Political Science](/source/Political_science) at the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto). He is the founder and director of the [G7](/source/G7) Research Group and the [G20](/source/G20) Research Group, the co-founder of the Global Health Diplomacy Program with [James Orbinski](/source/James_Orbinski), and the co-founder of the [BRICS](/source/BRICS) Research Group with [Marina Larionova](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marina_Larionova&action=edit&redlink=1) of the [Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration](/source/Russian_Presidential_Academy_of_National_Economy_and_Public_Administration).[2][3] ## Education Kirton received a B.A. in [Political Science](/source/Political_science) from the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) in 1971, an M.A. in [International Affairs](/source/International_relations) from [Carleton University](/source/Carleton_University) in 1973, and a Ph.D. in International Studies from the [Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies](/source/Paul_H._Nitze_School_of_Advanced_International_Studies) at [Johns Hopkins University](/source/Johns_Hopkins_University) in 1977.[2] ## Career At the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto), Kirton directed the G7 Research Group, the Canadian Foreign Policy Research Group, the G20 Research Group, the BRICS Research Group, and the Global Health Diplomacy Program.[2] His research areas include global summit governance, Canadian foreign policy, global health governance, global finance, and global environmental governance.[4] Kirton's work on Canadian foreign policy includes a neorealist analysis of Canada's role as a principal power, developed in his books *Canada as a Principal Power* (co-written with David DeWitt) and *Canadian Foreign Policy in a Changing World*.[5] In the field of trade and environment, Kirton led a team that developed an analytical framework for assessing the environmental effects of the [North American Free Trade Agreement](/source/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement) (NAFTA) and studied the role of the [Commission for Environmental Cooperation](/source/Commission_for_Environmental_Cooperation) in the region. He has also served as a member of Canada's [National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy](/source/National_Round_Table_on_the_Environment_and_the_Economy).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### Publications Kirton is the author or editor of more than 35 books. He is the editor of the Global Governance book series and co-editor (with [Miranda Schreurs](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miranda_Schreurs&action=edit&redlink=1)) of the Global Environmental Governance book series, both published by [Routledge Publishing](/source/Routledge_Publishing). He was co-editor (with [Michele Fratianni](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michele_Fratianni&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Paolo Savona](/source/Paolo_Savona)) of the Global Finance series published by [Ashgate Publishing](/source/Ashgate_Publishing). He is also co-editor of several publications on the G7 and G20, and of a series titled "Health: A Political Choice" published by GT Media.[6] ## Other activities Kirton serves on the board of the NATO Council of Canada (formerly [the Atlantic Council of Canada](/source/The_Atlantic_Council_of_Canada)) and the [Empire Club of Canada](/source/Empire_Club_of_Canada). He was a member of the board of the [Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs](/source/Couchiching_Institute_on_Public_Affairs) until 2013[7] and continues in an advisory role for Couchiching events, which are now hosted by the [Canadian International Council](/source/Canadian_International_Council).[8] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Lumley, Elizabeth, ed. (2003). *Canadian Who's Who 2003*. Vol. XXXVIII. University of Toronto Press. p. 725. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) ["University of Toronto Faculty"](https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/931-john-kirton). *discover.research.utoronto.ca*. Retrieved 2025-12-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["John J. Kirton | Department of Political Science"](https://www.politics.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/john-j-kirton). *www.politics.utoronto.ca*. Retrieved 2025-11-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["ISPI ETS (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale Ente del Terzo Settore)"](https://www.ispionline.it/en/bio/john-kirton). *ispionline*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["CANADA AS A PRINCIPAL POWER: A Study of Foreign Policy and International Relations, DeWitt & Kirton (review)"](https://www.cmreviews.ca/cm/cmarchive/vol11no5/canadaprincipalpower.html). *Canadian Materials Reviews*. Retrieved 31 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** University of Toronto (October 12, 2025). ["Health: A Political Choice – The Future of Health in a Fractured World"](https://www.g7g20.utoronto.ca/books/hapc2025/index.html). *Global Governance Program at the University of Toronto*. Retrieved December 23, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Couchiching Conference. ["Couchiching Conference"](https://thecic.org/couchiching-conference/). *Website of the Canadian International Conference*. Retrieved December 23, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Couchiching Conference – Couchiching Team, including John Kirton"](https://thecic.org/couchiching-conference/). *Canadian International Council*. Retrieved 31 January 2026. ## Further reading - Kirton, John. ["A Primer on the G8,"](https://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/07/05/issues-problems-overview-oped-cx_jk_summit08_0707kirton.html)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] *Forbes*, July 7, 2008. - Woods, Allan. ["G8/G20 summit junkies gear up,"](https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2010/06/03/g8g20_summit_junkies_gear_up.html) "Toronto Star," June 3, 2010. Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Netherlands Latvia Israel Academics CiNii ORCID ResearcherID Scopus Publons People Deutsche Biographie Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Kirton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kirton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kirton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.