Sessional Lecturer: ERE1158HF The Tobacco Industry Playbook

Date Posted: 05/26/2026
Req ID: 48260
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Ctr for European & Eurasian Stds
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

Course number and title: ERE1158HF The Tobacco Industry Playbook

Course description:

This course provides students with an opportunity to learn about and reflect on the continuously evolving tobacco industry playbook. The course will begin with an overview of the industry (e.g. key products, harms, figures, and players), before delving into its history. This will include the role of European settlers in colonizing and industrializing tobacco, the emergence of the industry in the US and Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the intricate relationship between the industry and the two world wars (including post-WWII reconstruction in Europe), and the consolidation and entrenchment of the industry into Big Tobacco (i.e. Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, and Imperial Brands – all headquartered in Europe, and Japan Tobacco International). After looking into research methodologies, the course will then explore the industry's main business and political strategies and tactics overtime, with a particular focus on Europe and Eurasia. These notably include producing and distributing addictive products (e.g. sales and marketing strategies, tobacco product supply chains), controlling information (e.g. concealing evidence of harms, funding research and influencing media to sow doubt and push certain narratives), undermining policy and lack of government capacity in particular in LMICs (i.e. through direct lobbying and allies), and rebranding itself as the solution to problems it created, e.g. to smoking with vaping, and to illicit trade with anti-illicit trade initiatives. Key case studies will include China (the world's largest cigarette producer) and Russia and Ukraine, with an exploration of how Big Tobacco captured post-Soviet Union markets through smuggling, how Ukraine long served as a smuggling hub for Big Tobacco companies, and how those companies responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. We will then explore how the tobacco industry playbook has been replicated in other industries, and discuss implications for research, policy, and practice.

Estimated enrollment: 25

Estimated TA support: none

Hours of work: Tuesdays 1-3 pm

*Please note, the delivery method for this course is currently in-person. Please note that, in keeping with current circumstances, the course delivery method may change as determined by the Faculty or the Department.

Sessional Dates of Appointment: 1 September 2026 -31 December 2026

Minimum qualifications: must have at least 5 years of university-level teaching experience and experience in experiential learning-based courses. A minimum MA is required and experience in public policy making.

Preferred qualifications: a track record of published scholarship on the subject in recognized journals.

Salary:

$ 9,997.48, inclusive of 4% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer I)
$ 10,699.22, inclusive of 6% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer I LT)
$ 10,699.22, inclusive of 6% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer II)
$ 10,953.96, inclusive of 6% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer II LT)
$ 10,953.96 inclusive of 6% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer III)
$ 11,228.9, inclusive of 6% vacation pay (Sessional Lecturer III LT)

Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Brief description of duties: two hours weekly seminars with students; regular student consultation; office hours, design of syllabus, grading and evaluation as required

Applications procedure: please send your cover letter, resume, and the Unit 3 application form available for download https://people.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/04/Employment-CUPE-3902-Unit-3-Application-Form-June-2012b.pdf to CEES Program and Internship Coordinator Katia Malyuzhinets ([email protected])

Closing Date: 06/24/2026, 11:59PM EDT
**

Candidates who are members of Indigenous. Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the position.

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.