Michael Dougall Bell
Encyclopedia
Michael Dougall Bell is a former Canadian Foreign Service Officer with 36 years experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs, mostly focused on the Middle East
. He was Canada's Ambassador to Jordan
(1987-90), Egypt
(1994-98), and Israel
(1990-92 and 1999- 2003). As former Chair of the Donor Committee of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq
.
. He attended Assumption College School
from 1958-1962, and later attended the University of Windsor
. At Windsor he received his B.A. Hons
(1966) and M.A.
(1967) in Political Science and Economic Studies.
he joined the Canadian Foreign Service, holding early positions in Kingston, Jamaica (1968-1970), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (1970-1972), and Rome, Italy (1981-1983). He Also Served as the Senior Political Officer in Tel Aviv, Israel from 1975 to 1978. He was Executive Assistant for Middle East Affairs to the Honourable Robert Stanfield
(1978-1979), and Director of the Middle East Relations Division (1983-1987), Director General for Central and Eastern Europe (1992-1994).
at Harvard University
(1998-99) and from 2003-2005 he was Senior Scholar on Diplomacy at the Munk Centre for International Studies, at the University of Toronto.
, where he teaches on the law and politics of the modern Middle East
. He is also engaged in a major study on the future governance of Jerusalem’s Old City. The project is designed to stimulate thinking amongst decision makers, respecting options for the future governance of the old city for possible use by negotiators, in the event of renewed negotiations for a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr. Bell has been a contributor to the Globe and Mail. He has also published in the Literary Review of Canada
, the Behind the Headlines series of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Idea&s: the Arts and Science Review of the University of Toronto, the International Journal, and the Journal of International Law and International Relations. He also frequently appears on national radio and television as a middle east expert.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He was Canada's Ambassador to Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
(1987-90), Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(1994-98), and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(1990-92 and 1999- 2003). As former Chair of the Donor Committee of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Early life
Bell was born on September 10, 1943 in Windsor, OntarioWindsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. He attended Assumption College School
Assumption College School
Assumption College Catholic High School is an International Baccalaureate authorized catholic high school in Windsor, Ontario.- History :Assumption was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1870 as part of Assumption University, which is now part of the University of Windsor...
from 1958-1962, and later attended the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
. At Windsor he received his B.A. Hons
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...
(1966) and M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(1967) in Political Science and Economic Studies.
Foreign Service
After completing his M.A.Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
he joined the Canadian Foreign Service, holding early positions in Kingston, Jamaica (1968-1970), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (1970-1972), and Rome, Italy (1981-1983). He Also Served as the Senior Political Officer in Tel Aviv, Israel from 1975 to 1978. He was Executive Assistant for Middle East Affairs to the Honourable Robert Stanfield
Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
(1978-1979), and Director of the Middle East Relations Division (1983-1987), Director General for Central and Eastern Europe (1992-1994).
After the Foreign Service
Mr. Bell served as the Fellow at the Weatherhead Centre for International AffairsWeatherhead Centre for International Affairs
The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs was founded as the Center for International Affairs in 1958 and assumed its current name in 1998 following an endowment by Albert and Celia Weatherhead and the Weatherhead Foundation. The aim of the Center was to confront the worlds problems as...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1998-99) and from 2003-2005 he was Senior Scholar on Diplomacy at the Munk Centre for International Studies, at the University of Toronto.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
Current Work
Michael Bell is currently the Paul Martin (Sr.) Senior Scholar on International Diplomacy at the University of WindsorUniversity of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, where he teaches on the law and politics of the modern Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He is also engaged in a major study on the future governance of Jerusalem’s Old City. The project is designed to stimulate thinking amongst decision makers, respecting options for the future governance of the old city for possible use by negotiators, in the event of renewed negotiations for a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr. Bell has been a contributor to the Globe and Mail. He has also published in the Literary Review of Canada
Literary Review of Canada
The Literary Review of Canada is a Canadian magazine that publishes ten times a year. The magazine publishes essays and reviews of books on political, cultural and social topics, as well as Canadian poetry...
, the Behind the Headlines series of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Idea&s: the Arts and Science Review of the University of Toronto, the International Journal, and the Journal of International Law and International Relations. He also frequently appears on national radio and television as a middle east expert.