Megan McGoey-Smith
Critical Labour Studies, Marxism/Marxist Geography, and the Sociology of Work
Before beginning your studies at the Institute of Political Economy where did you study and what program(s) were you enrolled in?
Before enrolling in the Institute of political Economy I received a bachelors degree in Sociology from Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.
What is it specifically that attracted you to study Political Economy at Carleton?
Throughout my undergraduate degree I was drawn to the areas of economic and political sociology. Specifically, I developed a passion for critical labour studies and theories of social stratification. As such, when I began researching graduate programmes in Canada I evaluated each school based on their commitment to interdisciplinary research, heterodox inquiry, and social justice studies.
Carleton’s Institute of Political Economy provided me with the capacity to study this field by incorporating and emphasizing interdisciplinary perspectives ranging from political science to geography. By enrolling in this institute I was able to build on my existing training from sociology while incorporating valuable contributions from a breadth of fields.
My areas of research interest include…
My current research explores investor citizenship in Canada and the subsequent intersections of capital and labour that impact citizenship policy. Broadly, I am interested in Critical Labour Studies, Marxism/Marxist Geography, and the Sociology of Work.
What activities have you been involved in lately?
My past research explored the relevance of Marx’s theories of alienation in a contemporary context through Multi-level Marketing careers. Over my first year in Political Economy I received the 2018/19 Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Most importantly, however, over the summer break I perfected my mushroom risotto recipe.
What advice would you give to a prospective Political Economy graduate student?
The Institute of Political Economy provides a unique and highly interdisciplinary environment for graduate studies. For those interested in a plethora of topics within the field of Political Economy, this program enables students to explore various disciplines whilst focusing on selected research areas. I would implore new students to take advantage of the cross-discipline course selection, the cross-appointed thesis/MRP supervision, the intimate cohort size, and the many resources made available from our amazing administrator Donna.
Lastly, while grad school is a lot of work make time for all the other important things: get involved on campus through organizations like the GSA or CUPE 4600, grab a pint and talk theory and politics at Mike’s Place, watch the geese and groundhogs by the Ottawa river in the summer, and try to leave a little time to cook a nice meal for yourself, and call your parents. Being a Political Economy graduate student is a fantastic experience: so forget about the marks —because the only one that matters is Marx.