Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy

NPSIA Director and Professor of International Affairs

• 5304 Richcraft Hall, Carleton University
• 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6

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Teddy Y. Samy is a Full Professor of International Affairs and currently in the final year of his second term (2022 to 2027) as the Director of NPSIA, having served a first term from 2017 to 2022. Prior to that, he was Associate Director (MA program) from 2010 to 2016, and Acting Associate Director (MA program) from 2008 to 2009. He has been teaching at NPSIA since 2003.

Professor Samy’s research interests intersect the broad areas of international and development economics. His current research focuses on domestic resource mobilization, fragile states, foreign aid, deindustrialization and income inequality, trade and women’s economic empowerment, and trade and development.

He serves as Series Editor for Palgrave’s Canada and International Affairs, which includes the annual Canada Among Nations book series. He is the co-editor of the Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026) and the Handbook on Fragile States (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023). He is a co-author of Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023). His articles have been published in various journals such as Conflict, Security and Development, the Canadian Journal of Development Studies, Third World Quarterly, International Interactions, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Conflict Management and Peace Science, Foreign Policy Analysis, the Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, and Applied Economics.

Professor Samy is the recipient of a Research Achievement Award (2013-14) and a Research Excellence Award (2008) from Carleton University. He is currently serving as an expert for The African Knowledge Network, Office of the Special Advisor on Africa, United Nations Under-Secretary General.

Professor Samy holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Ottawa, an MA in Economics from the University of Toronto, and a BA (Hons.) in Economics and Mathematics from York University. He completed his A-levels with distinctions in all subjects at the Royal College Curepipe in Mauritius, and is a two-time recipient of the “Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program” scholarship.

Expertise

African economic development, domestic resource mobilization, foreign aid, fragile and conflict-affected states, deindustrialization and income inequality, small island developing states, trade and development.

Recent Publications (2021-2026)

Samy, Y. and Oloruntoba, S.O. 2026. (eds.) Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa, Edward Elgar Publishing (forthcoming).

Oloruntoba, S. O. and Samy, Y. 2026.  “Introduction to the Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa,” in Y. Samy and S. O. Oloruntoba (eds.) Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa, Edward Elgar Publishing (forthcoming).

Samy, Y. 2026. “Economic Development in Africa: What Role for Democracy,” in Y. Samy and S. O. Oloruntoba (eds.) Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa, Edward Elgar Publishing (forthcoming).

Samy, Y. and Calleja, R. 2026. “The Influence of Southern Powers on International Development Governance Arrangements,” forthcoming in L. Alsafi, J. Daudelin and D. Hornsby (eds.) Canada Among Nations 2025, Southern Powers and Global Dis/Order, Palgrave Macmillan (forthcoming).

Samy Y. and Tang, V. T. 2026. “Domestic Resource Mobilization and Green Growth in BRICS Countries,” in V. Tang, K. T. Hanson, K. P.  Puplampu and P. Arthur (eds.) Green Development and Finance in a Globalized Africa, Palgrave Macmillan.

Samy, Y. and Wu, C. 2026. “Aid and Trade: How Does Canadian Official Development Assistance Affect Canadian Exports? An Empirical Analysis. Cooperation Canada and Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

Samy, Y. 2026. “Development Finance Modalities at a Time of Fiscal Constraints and Geopolitical Tensions.” Landscape Paper, Cooperation Canada and Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

Samy, Y. and Tang, V. T. 2025. “Mauritius: The Evolution and Dynamics of Income Inequality in the Context of Structural Transformation,” in C. Oya, R. Ramtohul and V. Tandrayen-Ragoobur (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of the Mauritian Economy, Oxford University Press.

Carment, D. and Samy, Y. 2025. “Fragile States in an Era of Geopolitical Rivalry, Pandemic, and War,” in R. Gisselquist, P. Justino and A. Vaccaro (eds.) Fragile Aid: Development Cooperation in Weak States and Conflict Contexts, Oxford University Press.

Jackson, E. T., Samy, Y. and Turner, K. 2025. “Gender Incentives in Climate Finance: Doubling Down on Proven Approaches During Uncertain Times,” online at NextBillion.

Samy, Y., Adedeji, A., Iraoya, A., Dutta, M. K., Fakmawii, J. L., and Hao, W. 2023. Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Palgrave Macmillan.

Kabongi, D. and Samy, Y. 2023. “Democracy and Taxation: Evidence from African Countries,” Journal of African Development, 24(1), 43-64.

Carment, D. and Samy, Y. 2023. (eds.) Handbook of Fragile States. Elgar Handbooks in Political Science, Edward Elgar Publishing.

Carment, D. and Samy, Y. 2023. “Introduction to the Handbook of Fragile States,” in D. Carment and Y. Samy (eds.) Handbook of Fragile States, Elgar Handbooks in Political Science, Edward Elgar Publishing, 1-18.

Cisneros Rosado, K. and Samy, Y. 2023. “Implications of Fragility for Growth, Poverty, and Inequality,” in D. Carment and Y. Samy (eds.) Handbook of Fragile States, Elgar Handbooks in Political Science, Edward Elgar Publishing, 152-169.

Olayele, F. and Samy, Y. 2023. (eds.) Sustainable Development in Post Pandemic Africa. Routledge Studies in African Development, Routledge.

Samy, Y. and Oloruntoba S. O. 2023. “Revisiting Africa’s Deindustrialization Debate,” in F. Olayele and Y. Samy (eds.) Sustainable Development in Post-Pandemic Africa, Routledge Studies in African Development, Routledge, 159-177.

Samy, Y. 2022. “Africa in Global Trade,” in S. O. Olorutoba and T. Falola (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of Africa and the Changing Global Order,Palgrave Macmillan, 393-408.

Baranyi, S., Samy, Y., and Washuta, B. 2021. “SDG16+ Implementation in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States: What Do the Data Tell Us Six Years into Agenda 2030?” Conflict, Security and Development, 21(6), 727-748.

Duncan, H. and Samy, Y. 2021. (eds.) Canada Among Nations 2019, International Affairs and Canadian Migration Policy. Palgrave Macmillan.