Robert COX

ROBERT WARBURTON COX Died on the 9th of October, 2018. Born in Montreal to Gregory Warburton Cox and Edythe Crombie, he went to McGill, graduating in 1948. Following which, with his new bride Jessie Rankin Gunn, he went to Geneva, Switzerland, to embark on a career at the International Labour Office during which he travelled extensively around the world. He returned to North America in 1972, first to New York where he taught at Columbia University, and then to Toronto where he was a professor of political science at York University. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2014 for his contributions to the field of international political economy. In the course of his career he held visiting professorships at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, the University of Denver, Laval University, Yale University, the University of Toronto, the Australian National University, the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and the United Nations University in Tokyo. He was beloved by generations of students. Much has been written about his work and his intellectual contribution to the field of international political economy. A universal comment resonates: the strength of his contribution came from an independence of mind that challenged accepted conceptions. He consistently emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural beliefs of others, creating a space for self- reflection and tolerance among cultures. His intellectual pursuits in no way diminished his pleasure in keeping good company, enjoying the good things in life, and having a good laugh. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Jessie Gunn, and his son-in-law Douglas Hahn. He is mourned by his partner Hongying Wang and her children Fan and Patrick Rosenau; by his daughters Susan and Janet Cox and his sons-in-law Massimo Formica and Michael Mackey; by his grandsons Fraser and Alex Hahn; and by his many colleagues and students.