Joel Bakan
Encyclopedia
Joel Conrad Bakan is a Canadian
writer and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
.
Born in Lansing, Michigan
and raised for most of his childhood in East Lansing, Michigan
where his parents, Paul and Rita Bakan, were both long-time professors in psychology at Michigan State University
. In 1971, he moved with his parents to Vancouver
, British Columbia
. He was educated at Simon Fraser University
(BA
, 1981), University of Oxford
(BA in law, 1983) and Dalhousie University
(LLB, 1984).
He served as a law clerk to Brian Dickson
in 1985. During his tenure as clerk, Chief Justice Dickson authored the judgment R. v. Oakes
, among others. Bakan then pursued a Masters degree at Harvard Law School
. After graduation, he returned to Canada, where he has taught law at Osgoode Hall Law School
of York University
and the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
. He joined the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
in 1990 as an Associate Professor. Professor Bakan teaches Constitutional Law, Contracts, socio-legal courses and the graduate seminar. He has won the Faculty of Law's Teaching Excellence Award twice and a UBC Killam Research Prize.
Bakan authored The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, a book analyzing the evolution and modern-day behavior of corporations from a critical perspective. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the same year and won 25 international awards. His book Childhood Under Siege: How Big Business Targets Children was published in August 2011.
He is also the author of a number of books on Canadian constitutional law, including Just Words: Constitutional Rights and Social Wrongs, which analyzes the historical effect that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has had in promoting social justice. Joel Bakan is distinct by criticizing the actions of civil liberties groups and their overemphasis on individual liberty at the expense of collective rights and duties.
Bakan has a son from his first wife, Marlee Gayle Kline, also a scholar and Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia
. Professor Kline died of leukemia in 2001 after a long struggle and Bakan supported his wife through her illness, while working on The Corporation, and established The Marlee Kline Memorial Lectures in Social Justice to commemorate her contributions to Canadian law and feminist legal theory. He is now married to Canadian actress and singer Rebecca Jenkins
. His sister, Laura Naomi Bakan Q.C., is a prominent Vancouver lawyer, and his brother, Michael Bakan
, a noted ethnomusicologist.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is one of the largest English language legal programs in Canada, with over 600 law students. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor program and the graduate degrees of Master of Laws , Master of Jurisprudence and doctorate degrees...
.
Born in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
and raised for most of his childhood in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
where his parents, Paul and Rita Bakan, were both long-time professors in psychology at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. In 1971, he moved with his parents to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He was educated at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
(BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, 1981), University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(BA in law, 1983) and Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
(LLB, 1984).
He served as a law clerk to Brian Dickson
Brian Dickson
Robert George Brian Dickson, , commonly known as Brian Dickson, was appointed Chief Justice of Canada on April 18, 1984. He retired on June 30, 1990 and died October 17, 1998.-Career:...
in 1985. During his tenure as clerk, Chief Justice Dickson authored the judgment R. v. Oakes
R. v. Oakes
R. v. Oakes [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103 is a case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada which established the famous Oakes test, an analysis of the limitations clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows reasonable limitations on rights and freedoms through legislation if it can be...
, among others. Bakan then pursued a Masters degree at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. After graduation, he returned to Canada, where he has taught law at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is one of the largest English language legal programs in Canada, with over 600 law students. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor program and the graduate degrees of Master of Laws , Master of Jurisprudence and doctorate degrees...
. He joined the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is one of the largest English language legal programs in Canada, with over 600 law students. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor program and the graduate degrees of Master of Laws , Master of Jurisprudence and doctorate degrees...
in 1990 as an Associate Professor. Professor Bakan teaches Constitutional Law, Contracts, socio-legal courses and the graduate seminar. He has won the Faculty of Law's Teaching Excellence Award twice and a UBC Killam Research Prize.
Bakan authored The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, a book analyzing the evolution and modern-day behavior of corporations from a critical perspective. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the same year and won 25 international awards. His book Childhood Under Siege: How Big Business Targets Children was published in August 2011.
He is also the author of a number of books on Canadian constitutional law, including Just Words: Constitutional Rights and Social Wrongs, which analyzes the historical effect that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has had in promoting social justice. Joel Bakan is distinct by criticizing the actions of civil liberties groups and their overemphasis on individual liberty at the expense of collective rights and duties.
Bakan has a son from his first wife, Marlee Gayle Kline, also a scholar and Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Professor Kline died of leukemia in 2001 after a long struggle and Bakan supported his wife through her illness, while working on The Corporation, and established The Marlee Kline Memorial Lectures in Social Justice to commemorate her contributions to Canadian law and feminist legal theory. He is now married to Canadian actress and singer Rebecca Jenkins
Rebecca Jenkins
-Acting:She had starring roles in the 1990s CBC series Black Harbour, and the films Bye Bye Blues, Marion Bridge, Wilby Wonderful, Whole New Thing, South of Wawa and Supervolcano. She also had a supporting role in the 1992 film Bob Roberts, as Dolores Perrigrew...
. His sister, Laura Naomi Bakan Q.C., is a prominent Vancouver lawyer, and his brother, Michael Bakan
Michael Bakan
Michael Bakan is a professor of ethnomusicology at Florida State University and director of the Balinese gamelan ensemble Sekaa Gong Hanuman Agung...
, a noted ethnomusicologist.