Paris Arnopoulos

I joined WFC in the mid sixties, after finishing my graduate studies in New York and returned to my home in Montreal to teach political science at Concordia University. Since my field was international politics, and I had worked in the United Nations Secretariat Headquarters in New York, I was naturally drawn to WFC of which I had heard many interesting things. I suppose, I was a world federalist from my youth, so the aims of WFC fitted nicely to my global ideals. So it was very easy for me to identify with both means and ends of WFC.

After attending some WFC events in Montreal, I became quite involved in its activities and eventually was elected to the executive in which I occupied various posts, culminating to the Branch Presidency from 1969 to 1971. During that time, I was also involved in national affairs, as a member of its Policy Committee, and of course I was ex officio member of the National Council.

Between 1971 and 1972, I had a sabbatical abroad, and spent the year at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in Geneva. Following this, I went to Helsinki to attend the summer school of the International Peace Institute.

After my return to Montreal, I continued as WFC member, but felt that others should take over the administrative business of the branch, so my involvement became marginal. Also, I got more active in the United Nations Association and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, in both of which I eventually rose to the Branch Presidency by the late seventies.

By the end of that decade, I had my second sabbatical which I spent in Paris working in the Peace and Human Rights Secretariat of UNESCO, and after a few years in the Policy Planning Division of the Federal Department of External Affairs in Ottawa. Finally, was involved in various projects with the United Nations University in Tokyo and the United Nations Peace University in Costa Rica.

Throughout this time, I kept my ties with WFC, and I can say that it was both the cause and effect of my international activities. Unfortunately, because of these multi-functions and overwork in teaching, researching and publishing, I neglected WFC itself. Nevertheless, my experience in WFC served me indirectly in all these related endeavors.

Now in my retirement, I have more time but less energy, and stay only part of the time in Canada, so reluctantly cannot get as involved in world federalism as I would like in a continuous basis. That’s why I was very glad to join old friends and meet young people in Montreal for the National Meeting this year.

Paris Arnopoulos,

Professor Emeritus, Concordia University,

Montreal, May 2004.