CIPS

Canada Needs a Wait-and-See Approach on Afghanistan

Analysis
September 1, 2017

By Lindsay Rodman Will US President Donald Trump’s new plan for Afghanistan pull Canada back into a war that many deem a “lost cause”? Mr. Trump explicitly invited other nations to contribute in support of his new plan. Although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated clearly that there are no plans to reintroduce Canadian troops into

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Security, USA

CETA after Opinion 2/15: Legal Clarity or Confusion?

Analysis
July 13, 2017

By Jens Ladefoged Mortensen Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen The EU’s trading partners must wonder what goes on inside Europe. What does it take to get a trade deal done? True, trade negotiations are notoriously complex. The CETA agreement took over seven years to negotiate. The controversial investment chapter was unilaterally revised by

Europe, International Trade

After Abdication

Analysis
July 9, 2017

By Peter Marcus Kristensen University of Copenhagen American observers of international affairs are currently enmeshed in a debate on the uncertain future of the “US-led liberal international order.” This is, of course, spurred by the election of President Trump and his nationalist and isolationist “America First” strategy. Trump’s wavering approach to alliance commitments, skepticism towards

China, USA

Liberal Interventionism: The Crisis Within

Analysis
July 9, 2017

By Katja Lindskov Jacobsen Center for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen Liberal interventionism today not only responds to crises in countries experiencing violent conflicts, distress, and disaster. It also responds to a crisis within. This crisis is not simply about post-Trump budget cuts and the broader withdrawal from liberal interventionism’s key institutions, including the UN.

Democracy, United Nations, USA

Trump’s Genius

Analysis
July 9, 2017

By Michael C. Williams Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa For much of the public and the political classes, Donald Trump remains a mystery. The Twitter tirades and legislative fiascos, the constant media feuding, the insults and outrage all seem to reveal a president who is not simply politically inexperienced, but

Democracy, Environment, USA

What to Watch for this Summer

Analysis
June 14, 2017

We asked our CIPS experts to give us a heads-up on what to watch for this summer. No one can predict the next coup or terrorist attack, of course, but we can be certain of some things. Donald Trump will say something mystifying. Vladimir Putin will scowl. Justin Trudeau will stop for a selfie with

Canadian Foreign Policy, Environment, Human Rights

The Politics of Border Security in the Sahel

Analysis
May 9, 2017

By Philippe M. Frowd A casual observer of the Sahel could be forgiven for understanding this region of West Africa as a space of threat: radicalization, terrorism, massive population growth, and irregular migration all grab the headlines. This vision is visible in the policy world, too: one only needs to glance at the ever-expanding number

Africa, International Security, Refugees

A Treaty to Protect the Rights of Older People is Long Overdue!

Analysis
April 24, 2017

By Gordon Digiacomo, Martine Lagacé, and Caroline Andrew “Homelessness, malnutrition, unattended chronic diseases, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, unaffordable medicines and treatments and income insecurity are just a few of the most critical human rights issues that a large number of older persons confront on a daily basis.” —UN Secretary-General Ban

Human Rights, International Development, United Nations

In Memoriam: Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, murdered 23 April 2016

Analysis
April 20, 2017

By Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because

Asia, Democracy, Human Rights

The New Colossus

Analysis
March 30, 2017

by Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” The words inscribed at the base of the statue of Liberty are famous, and yet hardly anyone knows that they are from a sonnet called “The New Colossus” and hardly anyone could name the poet, Emma Lazarus. She shares

Human Rights, Refugees, USA

Canada–China Free Trade Part 2: Forging an Agreement

Analysis
March 10, 2017

by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert A new free trade agreement with China, in whatever form it takes, should be advanced within the context of a broader strategy for Canada’s engagement with China, particularly (but not exclusively) the strategy of expanding the commercial relationship. This should be a coherent, pan-Canadian approach with the support and

Asia, International Trade

Canada–China Free Trade Part 1: Business before Politics

Analysis
March 10, 2017

by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert Canada and China have begun exploratory discussions on a possible free trade agreement (FTA). Expanding Canada’s economic ties with China and moving the commercial relationship forward is a positive step. If it is properly titled, conceived, and well negotiated, a new binding contract that reduce barriers to trade could

Asia, International Trade

#rezist: Protest in Romania

Analysis
March 9, 2017

by Teodor Lucian Moga In the past weeks, Romanians have staged the largest mass protests since the country’s break from Communist rule in 1989. On Sunday, February 27, several thousand protesters gathered in front of the government building in Bucharest’s Victory Square — the usual rendezvous since demonstrations began on January 31 — forming a

Democracy, Europe

Humanitarian Action on the Front Lines

Analysis
March 1, 2017

by Dominik Stillhart The ICRC is mandated by the international community to assist and protect those affected by conflict or violence, including promoting international humanitarian law, monitoring respect for that law, and assisting people affected by war. This mandate reflects the ideas of Henry Dunant, a private Swiss businessman who witnessed more than 40,000 dead

Fragile States, Human Rights, International Law

Changes South of the Border Offer both Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Agriculture in Canada

Analysis
February 23, 2017

By Ryan M. Katz-Rosene, Marie-Josée Massicotte, and Christopher Kelly-Bisson A number of obstacles presently stand in the way of efforts to make Canada’s agricultural system more sustainable. A heavy reliance on chemical inputs, industrial processing, and long distances between farm and plate have contributed to high rates of greenhouse gas emissions, degradation of water and

Canadian Foreign Policy, Economy, Environment

Tax Carbon, Not Meat Part 2: Fossil Fuels are the Climate Problem, not Animals

Analysis
February 13, 2017

By Ryan M. Katz-Rosene Besides the various agricultural production practices outlined in part one of this blog, many cite the atmospheric impacts of farm animals themselves as a reason to tax meat. However, direct GHG emissions from animals, known as “biospheric emissions,” are qualitatively different from those of fossil fuels, and in some ways

Economy, Environment

Tax Carbon, Not Meat Part 1: Differentiating Livestock Management Practices

Analysis
February 13, 2017

By Ryan M. Katz-Rosene The idea of applying a tax on meat has recently received a lot of attention, both in Canada and internationally. However, the leading proponents of taxing meat make some big assumptions about all meat being “bad” for the climate. Not all meat production is equal — and different livestock management practices

Economy, Environment

Community Engagement in Mining: Sharing Experiences and Best Practices

Report
January 30, 2017

By Caitlin Sievert and Ainsley Butler Resource-rich countries are home to 3.5 billion people. When these resources become a source of conflict between communities, corporations, and government, opportunities for community development are often lost. The immovability of natural resources renders the role of communities located near mining operations of critical importance throughout the mining cycle.

International Development

Syrian Refugees and Canada’s “Defining Moment”: One Year On

Report
December 7, 2016

By Elke Winter, Benjamin Zyla, Charlotte Murret-Labarthe University of Ottawa Origins of the crisis In March 2011, three months after the Arab Spring began in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, fifteen Syrian schoolchildren were arrested and tortured for writing on a wall the anti-regime slogan: “The people want the overthrow of the regime.” This event sparked

Canadian Foreign Policy, Middle East, Refugees

Gender and peacebuilding: Trudeau can do more to support gender rights in Africa

Analysis
December 1, 2016

By Dr. Annie Bunting With the Canadian government about to confirm the deployment of peacekeepers to Africa (likely to Mali), and Prime Minister Trudeau’s recent visit to Liberia and address to the Francophonie on the centrality of the rights of women and girls, it is important to reflect critically on both these agendas in tandem.

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Development, International Security, United Nations

We Must Not Close the Doors to Spontaneously Arriving Asylum Seekers

Analysis
November 8, 2016

By Stephanie J. Silverman Governments understandably focus on enhancing security, surveillance, and risk management for their citizens, and as we have seen, particularly since 9-11, much of this increased attention is directed at national borders. While every person enjoys the legal right to seek asylum in Canada, the UK, the US, and any other signatory

International Security, Refugees

Working Towards a Trinity of Trust: A Few Suggestions on National Security Reform in Canada

Analysis
November 3, 2016

by Stephanie Carvin A year after its election, the Trudeau Government is now taking steps to fulfill its campaign promises to improve intelligence oversight in Canada and reform Bill C-51 — the Harper Government’s controversial terrorism legislation. So far, there are some very promising signs regarding the direction the government is headed. Public Safety Minister

International Security

The European and Canadian public needs a reasoned debate on CETA

Analysis
October 26, 2016

This is an open letter to Europeans and Canadians signed by 16 academics based in Canada who believe in the value for democracy and society in a more reasoned and balanced debate on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union October 21, 2016 For years, we have been reading

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade

Trudeau Government, Canadian Foreign Policy, and Public Opinion: A One-Year Assessment

Analysis
October 12, 2016

By Mathieu Landriault With an approval rate oscillating at around 70% and voting intentions at around 50%, it is fair to say that the Trudeau government has enjoyed wide public support during its first year in power. However, overall positive impressions do not necessarily imply that the Canadian population is supportive of all governmental policies

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Security, Middle East

Between Past and Future: Canada’s Next Role in International Democracy Assistance

Analysis
July 29, 2016

by Gerald J. Schmitz Where can Canada go from here in re-establishing its role as a partner in promoting democracy? Let us focus on four main areas: Parliament’s role, research capacity, stable funding, and healthy democracy at home. Parliament’s Role as an Incubator of Ideas As a matter of historical record, Parliament and its committees

Canadian Foreign Policy, Democracy

The Three Amigos and the Next Phase in Clean Energy and Innovation Policy

Analysis
July 2, 2016

by Ryan Katz-Rosene At the 29 June 2016 “three amigos summit,” North American leaders announced an ongoing partnership in addressing climate, clean energy, and environment. In many ways, this is welcome news, marking a unique moment when leaders leverage their mutual concerns for continental integration and climate change. At the same time, this partnership is just

Canadian Foreign Policy, Environment

A New Era for Persons with Disabilities and International Development?

Analysis
May 13, 2016

by Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo Momentum behind the disability-inclusive development agenda is at an all-time high — and growing. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the key international document, now has 163 States-Parties. Additionally, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have been clear steps forwards. Most

Disability, International Development

Despite the “Never Again” Attitude of Chernobyl Commemorations, Nuclear Gets Boost from Unlikely Source

Analysis
May 10, 2016

by Ryan Katz-Rosene This spring has marked two painful anniversaries. April 26 was the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986, the worst nuclear accident in history. Chernobyl was a complete disaster, from planning and design to emergency preparedness and response management. It was also a tragedy resulting in over 40 direct deaths (occurring

Environment

Intersectionality and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Global Development

Analysis
April 28, 2016

by Julianne Acker-Verney, Pamela Johnson, and Susan Manning Intersectionality is a tool that can guide researchers, policy makers, and practitioners to learn about and respond to the diverse experiences of women and men, girls and boys with disabilities and the social structures and systems that often exclude and silence them. Persons with disabilities are often

Disability, International Development

Disability and Development in Africa: What Role for Canada?

Analysis
April 21, 2016

by David Black It has become widely accepted that the previous Conservative government sharply diminished Canada’s focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Against this backdrop, the new Liberal government has signalled its intent to re-engage. There are several problems with this narrative. First, while there is no denying the Conservatives’ relative disinterest in African issues, it

Africa, Canadian Foreign Policy, Disability, International Development

W.E.B. Du Bois: From Global to Transnational Justice

Analysis
April 7, 2016

By Inés Valdez Theories of global justice spring from a genealogy of internationalism that includes the Parliament at The Hague, the League of Nations, and the United Nations. These theories rely on a conceptualization of the West as homogeneously affluent, which limits the recognition of marginalized groups within the West or the possibility that West–non-West

International Development, International Law

Finding Canada’s Way Again on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Analysis
March 31, 2016

Introduction: Disability and Global Development There are over one billion persons with disabilities in the world today. Although many are at the “bottom billion” of the global hierarchy, over the past decade they have capably organized to get their rights recognized through the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Sustainable

International Development

Bringing Canada “Back” for the Long Haul

Analysis
March 10, 2016

By Margaret Biggs and John McArthur This week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will lead a delegation to Washington with great fanfare. Like many of our fellow Canadians, we are excited to see the outcomes of the country’s first White House state dinner and accompanying high-level visit since 1997. The events mark a high-profile embodiment

Canadian Foreign Policy

Slow and Costly: The Crisis Confronting Internationalized Criminal Justice

Analysis
March 6, 2016

By William Wiley Internationalized criminal justice is in crisis — a crisis laid bare by the limited criminal-justice response to the conflict in Syria and, more widely, the struggles endured by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its first twelve years of life. The glacial speed at which

International Law, Middle East

It Had to Happen: China Finally Gets Tough on North Korea

Analysis
March 4, 2016

By David Slinn China was always going to get tough with Kim Jong-Un’s North Korea. It wasn’t a question of whether, but when. North Korea is supposed to be China’s buffer against South Korea and the US. Until DPRK started its nuclear tests, the deal was simple: reasonably good behaviour from Pyongyang in return for

International Security

Ending Poverty by 2030: Sharing Prosperity with the Bottom 40%

Analysis
March 1, 2016

By Christopher Lakner, Mario Negre, and Espen Beer Prydz While the world has seen a rapid reduction in extreme poverty in recent decades, the goal of “ending poverty” by 2030 remains ambitious. The latest estimates show that in 2012 almost 900 million people (12.7% of the world’s population) lived below the $1.90/day threshold (based on 2011

International Development

Information Might be the Key to Dealing with North Korea’s Nuclear Threat

Analysis
February 18, 2016

By David Slinn Dealing with North Korea is not easy. Dealing with a dictatorship never is. It took the West 45 years to overcome the challenges posed by the Soviet Union. North Korea has now developed into a serious threat to regional and global security. Hiding the file at the bottom of the “Too Difficult”

International Security

Interview: Margaret Biggs and John McArthur – Welcoming a new era of global development

News
February 2, 2016

This post originally appeared on the Open Canada blog. In the months following the election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, there has been much debate in academic and public policy circles as to what Canada’s priorities should be when it comes to its international engagement and presence in world affairs. In this vein, the Centre for

La Turquie, est-elle destinée à durer ?

Analysis
January 27, 2016

par Halil Karaveli La Turquie était censée représenter un « modèle » pour le Moyen-Orient. Pour l’Occident en quête d’un antidote à l’islamisme, le pays a incarné les espoirs de laïcité et de démocratie: La preuve qu’un pays puisse être à la fois musulman, démocrate et laïc. Ce moment est révolu. Aujourd’hui, la Turquie se distingue de nouveau

Middle East

Turbulent Times: Volatility in Foreign Policy

Analysis
January 20, 2016

By Eleonora Mattiacci, Amherst College In 2015, two momentous rapprochements took place on the international stage. In July, the United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations. In December, Pakistan hosted a surprise visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, for the first time in more than a decade, met with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz

International Security

‘Are there any women here?’ Gender Representations in Hyena Road.

Analysis
December 11, 2015

Pete (Paul Gross), Ryan (Rossif Sutherland), and Jennifer (Christine Horne) in Hyena Road By David Mutimer In 2010 Christopher Dornan argued that “Alone among G8 nations, Canada apparently has no great appetite for making war movies.” While that observation is probably still apt, it is perhaps a little less true than it was at the time.

Gender, Middle East, Women

Welcoming Syrians, detaining others

Analysis
December 8, 2015

By Philippe Bourbeau The newly elected Trudeau government seems to be moving quickly on one of its promises made during the federal election campaign: to accept 25,000 Syrians by January 1, 2016. On November 9, while announcing the formation of a sub-committee of cabinet ministers to expedite the refugee initiative, the minister for Immigration, Refugees

Human Rights, Middle East, Refugees

Working group on International Trade and Commerce

Report
November 17, 2015

What are the principal international trade and commerce challenges facing Canada—and how should Canada respond? CIPS convened a working group of seasoned policy experts and asked them to answer these questions. Their report, based on months of deliberation and consultation, sets out important policy recommendations for the new Canadian government on current and future international trade

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Trade

Working Group on International Development

Report
November 15, 2015

The world is in the midst of a complex and dramatic set of transformations. The traditional view of “international development” as solely a matter of charity and moral importance, secondary to Canada’s hard interests, is long outdated. The complex, inter-related nature of contemporary global challenges demands a new mindset, a new coalition of actors, and

Canadian Foreign Policy, International Development

Working Group Report on Human Rights in Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis, Report
November 9, 2015

A new Canadian government has been elected. What should it do to promote human rights in its foreign policy? How can Canada best contribute to global efforts to protect human rights? CIPS convened a working group of seasoned policy experts and asked them to answer these questions. Their report, based on months of deliberation and

Human Rights

Working Group Report on Canada’s International Security and National Defence Policy

Report
November 4, 2015

What are the principal security and defence challenges facing Canada, and how should Canada respond? CIPS asked two former senior officials, one recently retired general, and two academic security policy experts to answer these questions. Their report, based on months of deliberation and consultation, sets out important policy recommendations for the new Canadian government. CIPS

Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence

CIPS Working Groups: Canada and the World Policy Reports

News
October 20, 2015

New Directions for Canadian International Policy In Fall 2014, CIPS convened four working groups of academics and policy practitioners to explore new thinking and policy options in four areas: International Security and Defence, International Development, International Trade and Commerce, and International Human Rights. This initiative grew out of discussions at the May 2014 Ottawa Forum,

What Are ‘Hotspots’? The Inevitable Rise of Detention in the Quest for Asylum Solutions in the EU

Analysis
October 16, 2015

Mstyslav Chernov/Creative Commons By Stephanie J. Silverman The Syrian refugee crisis has finally grabbed the world’s attention and is testing the sustainability of the European Union and its common asylum adjudication procedures. Policymakers are struggling to find solutions from under a complex latticework of administering and securitizing refugee and immigration admissions policy. This struggle is

Why Does the Reconciliation between Israel and Military Intellectuals Matter?

Analysis
October 14, 2015

By Philippe Beaulieu-Brossard Appointing a new Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner rarely stirs up controversy, but in Israel it can easily turn into a media storm. This might not come as a surprise. Israel has an assault rate of 6.35%, one of the five worst among 34 OECD countries. Nowadays, Israel public fears a third

Defence and Intelligence, Middle East

Making Peace in a Divided World: New Roles for the United Nations?

Analysis
October 1, 2015

© Crown Copyright 2013 By Richard Gowan There is no more annoying phrase in discussions of international affairs than “If the United Nations did not exist, we would have to invent it!” It is certainly true that the world urgently needs an effective collective security organization today. But the organization it needs bears only a

Asia, International Security, Russia, United Nations, USA

The Charter Strikes Back: A Step Forward for Refugee Rights in Canada

Analysis
July 30, 2015

By Stephanie J. Silverman Almost a year after the Federal Court of Canada struck down the ban on refugee claimants’ denial of health care, a new judicial review finds that a pernicious aspect of the Conservatives’ overhaul of refugee rights is discriminatory and must end. In July 2015, Mr. Justice Boswell found a Canadian Charter

Shining a Light on Canada’s Deteriorating Human Rights Record

Analysis
July 15, 2015

By Leilani Farha Published in the Toronto Star, July 13, 2015 Last May I was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing. The goal of this position is to advance the rights of marginalized communities around the world who are homeless or living in inadequate housing. I’ve spent the last year travelling to

The Final Push: Canada and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

Analysis
July 15, 2015

By Arne Ruckert, Ronald Labonté and Ashley Schram The Trans-Pacific Partnership is nearing the end game of negotiations, creating a market of 800 million people with a combined economic clout of US$28-trillion annually. After the U.S. Congress granted fast-track authority to President Obama, a final agreement among the 12 Pacific-rim countries involved in the trade

Analysis
June 1, 2015

By Stephanie J. Silverman Published on openDemocracy, May 29, 2015 Tens of thousands of law-abiding foreign workers residing in Canada became deportable last April. This sudden vulnerability to deportation resulted from the Parliamentary passage of a small legislative change called the “cumulative duration rule”, known colloquially as the “4 in, 4 out” or the “4

Analysis
May 18, 2015

By Sarah Tuckey In March 2015, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development released the Synthesis Report: Summative Evaluation of Canada’s Afghanistan Development Program. On April 14, CIPS and its Fragile States Research Network (FSRN) held a panel to discuss the evaluation’s methods, findings and recommendations. This series of blog posts by Nipa Banerjee,

Fragile States, Gender, International Development, Middle East

Analysis
April 21, 2015

Par Michael E. Lambert, chercheur invité au Centre d’études en politiques internationales Published on the CDA Security and Defence Blog, April 21, 2015 L’Europe apparait aujourd’hui comme la principale promotrice du dialogue pour solutionner les conflits, en témoigne le Nobel de la Paix qui lui a été attribué en 2012. Cette position pacifique intervient après

Defence and Intelligence, Europe, International Security

Analysis
March 30, 2015

Par Michael E. Lambert, chercheur invité au Centre d’études en politiques internationales L’année 2015 s’impose comme celle des négociations sur la mise en place du TTIP et du rapprochement entre les États-Unis et l’Union européenne. Dans les faits, le Traité transatlantique est présenté comme un moyen de stimuler l’économie européenne et américaine. Dans la pratique,

Europe, International Trade, USA

Analysis
March 19, 2015

By Robert Farley, Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky What do intellectual property law, industrial espionage, and cyber-warfare have to do with one another? Industrial espionage is, by definition, a violation of most existing schemes of intellectual property law. In the 19th and 20th centuries, governments actively practiced industrial espionage, dispatching

Defence and Intelligence

Analysis
March 10, 2015

By Catherine Weaver (University of Texas at Austin and Innovations for Peace and Development) and Josh Powell (Development Gateway and AidData, Washington, DC) Over the past decade, the international aid transparency movement has made considerable progress in opening the information spigots, firmly bringing the big data revolution to the nearly $200 billion (annual) global development

International Development

Analysis
March 5, 2015

By Jarrod Hayes, School of International Affairs, Georgia Tech The world is a complex place. Social tides ebb and flow, diverse social systems interacting with agency to produce an ever-shifting mix of international challenges. This is all the more true in the post-Cold War global context, with the apparent stability of the rivalry between the

International Security, Middle East, Russia

Analysis
February 25, 2015

By David Petrasek and Allan Rock Published in the Toronto Star, February 24, 2015 The emergence of potential candidates reminds us that the 2016 race for the White House has already begun. Canadians will watch the American contest in fascination and frustration, aware that although the choice has momentous consequences for Canada, we are mere

Analysis
February 15, 2015

Roland Paris appeared on the Sunday morning broadcast The West Block with Tom Clark to discuss the question on whether Western countries should send lethal weapons to help the Ukrainian government. Paris noted that there were no good policy options for the West in Ukraine. The main problem with supplying lethal weapons, he said, is

International Security, Russia, Ukraine

Analysis
February 8, 2015

By Colin Robertson This is one of a series of CIPS Blog posts examining the legacy of John Baird as Canada’s foreign minister. See also the posts by Peter Jones, Ferry de Kerckhove and David Petrasek. John Baird arrived at the Pearson Building in May 2011 as an experienced minister and accomplished, if partisan, parliamentarian.

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
September 12, 2014

By George Petrolekas and Ferry de Kerckhove Published in the Globe and Mail, September 12, 2014 In 1938, Neville Chamberlain returned to a hero’s welcome in London having given away parts of Czechoslovakia to Hitler at Munich. He announced that he had brought “peace in our time” and then asked his citizens to go home

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
September 9, 2014

By Richard Wyn Jones, Cardiff University. On the 18th of September, the Scottish electorate will go to the polls to vote on the proposition “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Remarkably, it’s only now that the rest of the world – and indeed, even the rest of the UK – is beginning to wake up

Analysis
September 7, 2014

By Mira Sucharov, Department of Political Science, Carleton University As the prominence of social media in society intensifies, the question of how scholars can most effectively engage in the public sphere has taken on new significance. In a piece in PS: Political Science & Politics earlier this year, Brent Sasley and I looked at how

Analysis
July 10, 2014

The Harper government’s neglect of diplomacy has resulted in a largely ineffective foreign policy that has not served Canada’s interests, argues CIPS director Roland Paris in this video clip. His remarks were part of a panel discussion organized by Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute on June 23, 2014. A full video of the discussion

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
June 10, 2014

In March 2014, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, appointed ten independent policy experts to a panel and asked them to provide advice on the future of the transatlantic bond. The panel included a Canadian: CIPS Director Roland Paris. On June 10, the group presented its report to Secretary-General Rasmussen

International Security

Analysis
April 30, 2014

What’s the most significant outcome to date of developments in Ukraine/Russia? CIPS faculty were invited to give brief responses to this question—still very much a development in progress, as many of them point out. Here’s a range of strikingly disparate takes on the meaning of the Ukraine/Russia crisis from a lineup of our expert scholars.

Analysis
April 27, 2014

It’s been almost a decade since Canada conducted a foreign policy review. The Ottawa Forum on May 23-24, co-organized by CIPS and the Canadian International Council, will bring together some of Canada’s most insightful “next generation” policy thinkers and most experienced policy practitioners to map out an ambitious, forward-looking international strategy for Canada. What major

Analysis
February 24, 2014

By Kirsten Van Houten and Benjamin Zyla Since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001, NATO has provided extensive security and development assistance to Afghanistan. While NATO is slated to withdraw from Afghanistan later this year, the international community must stay involved in the development and conflict mitigation processes there following NATO’s withdrawal

Analysis
February 5, 2014

By Jeremy Kinsman, University of California and Ryerson University Jeremy Kinsman will be speaking at the CIPS panel ‘Is Democracy Rising or Receding?’ on February 14, 2014. From its inception in 2007, the international project A Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development Support (now in its third edition) has produced a fact- and interview-based account of

Analysis
January 31, 2014

By Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada Watch the video of Alex Neve’s CIPS talk: Protecting Refugees: It’s a human rights issue The lambasting that Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews received from federal Immigration Minister Chris Alexander last week about refugee health care was despairingly illustrative of a major public policy deficit when

Analysis
January 26, 2014

By Stephen Saideman, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University Stephen Saideman will be giving a talk at CIPS about his newly-released book on January 28, 2014 I am not sure whether it was ironic or just especially appropriate that I learned a key lesson about NATO the first week of September 2001. I

Analysis
January 20, 2014

By Syed Sajjadur Rahman, Visiting Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa This essay, along with the ones by Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy and by Stephen Baranyi and Alicia Dobson, arose out of the Bangladesh: Out of Fragility symposium held at the University of Ottawa on November 26, 2013. The Bangladesh economy

International Development

Analysis
January 20, 2014

By Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy, Associate Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University This essay, along with the ones by Sajjad Rahman and by Stephen Baranyi and Alicia Dobson, arose out of the Bangladesh: Out of Fragility symposium held at the University of Ottawa on November 26, 2013. Bangladesh’s weak democratic institutions

Analysis
January 19, 2014

By Mariah Zeisberg, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan. She will be giving a lecture at CIPS on January 23, 2014. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which the United States Congress enacted after 9/11 to authorize combat against Al Qaeda, is still being used to authorize U.S. military operations—many

Analysis
December 12, 2013

By Colin Robertson, Vice President, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute Stephen Harper aims to position Canada as a ‘rising power’. While protecting our privileged access to the USA, Canada under Harper’s leadership actively seeks new markets for our goods and resources. It draws on our pluralistic population with family entrees to every nation on

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
December 8, 2013

By Joanne St. Lewis, Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa My heart is heavy. The braided life of pain, joy, courage, strength and love – indeed, all that was the brilliant complex persona of Nelson Mandela is no more. Mandela is the most significant public intellectual of my lifetime. He spoke to the

Analysis
December 4, 2013

In anticipation of the December 5th book launch of the Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, CIPS posed the following question to former Prime Minister Paul Martin (who will be speaking at the event): “What does the recently announced DFATD Global Markets Action Plan mean for Canadian diplomacy?” Below is Mr. Martin’s reply. It is absurd

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
October 18, 2013

By David Black, Dalhousie University A preview of David Black’s CIPS lecture on October 22, 2013 Among the various criticisms of the Harper government’s foreign policy, its presumed neglect or even abandonment of sub-Saharan Africa is among the most frequently invoked. There is much to this story, and much to be explained in telling it.

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
October 16, 2013

By Michele Mastroeni, University of Edinburgh A preview of Michele Mastroeni’s CIPS lecture on October 18, 2013 Industry leaders and governments have pursued innovation as a source of economic growth for the last two decades. While firms have been striving to harness innovation in order to move beyond their competitors, governments have struggled to find

Analysis
September 18, 2013

By Gareth Evans Published on the openDemocracy blog, September 9, 2013. This essay is part of a symposium on R2P and the human rights crisis in Syria, guest edited by David Petrasek. The lack of consensus in the UN Security Council as to how to react to mass atrocity crimes in Syria, including now the

Analysis
September 3, 2013

Ian Hurd is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University The debate sparked by Syria’s chemical weapons attack includes at least three separate controversies: 1) which (if any) international legal instruments govern Syria’s use of chemical weapons; 2) whether outside military action against the Syrian regime violates international law; and 3) whether US

Analysis
June 10, 2013

Published in the Ottawa Citizen, June 5, 2013 Are political scientists failing to play their part as critics of the government in Canada? Lawrence Martin thinks so. Writing in the Globe and Mail last week, he lamented that academics are busy working on narrow research projects, instead of using their privileged positions to find fault

Analysis
May 21, 2013

Guest blog post by Deborah Stienstra, Professor in Disability Studies, University of Manitoba Policy makers, researchers and activists may be skeptical about including disability in discussions about fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). There are so many urgent and competing priorities for development initiatives in these states—how can we possibly add one more? Yet disability is

Analysis
May 3, 2013

Conference to be held on 15-16 October 2013 in Ottawa, Canada Co-sponsored by: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS), University of Ottawa Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 May 2013 1. Justification and Objectives The principal goal of the conference

Analysis
April 17, 2013

Guest post by John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this post, Mr. Baird responds to Bob Rae’s commentary on Canadian foreign policy. CIPS is pleased to provide a venue for this debate. To receive notification of future blogposts, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. I’m pleased that CIPS and

Canadian Foreign Policy, Middle East

Analysis
April 15, 2013

By guest-bloggers Steve Mason, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), and Katie McGregor, University of Ottawa. Renowned as a place of rich history, diverse cultures and world-famous musicians, Mali has been making headlines for very different reasons over the past twelve months. Once cited as a model of peace and stability in West Africa, Mali’s two

Analysis
April 14, 2013

Guest post by Bob Rae, MP John Baird’s recent trip to the Middle East—and seemingly incoherent announcements before and after—give us a chance to re-assess the Conservative government’s foreign policy. The Reform Party’s reverse takeover of the Progressive Conservative Party, and subsequent election as a minority government in 2006, meant that we had a government

Canadian Foreign Policy, Middle East

Analysis
April 4, 2013

By guest-bloggers Jennifer Erin Salahub, Senior Researcher and Team Leader at the North-South Institute, and Margaret Capelazo, Gender Advisor at CARE Canada. As part of the global aid effectiveness agenda, the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States reflects the fact that solutions to violence and fragility are more likely to be sustainable when generated

Analysis
April 3, 2013

By guest-blogger Julia Sanchez, President-CEO of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, the national platform for Canadian civil society organizations working on international development. Based purely on need, enhancing our focus (and resources) on fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) is not a hard case to make. As the World Development Report 2011 reminded us, of

Analysis
March 22, 2013

CIPS Policy Brief No. 21, March 2013. By JOHN MUNDY, Visiting Associate, CIPS. War with Iran is closer than we may think, but is not inevitable. If war with Iran does occur, the likely tactical victory of the U.S. (and other supporting countries) will come with a larger political and strategic defeat due to the

Analysis
November 16, 2012

Par Stéphane Paquin, Professeur agrégé à l’École nationale d’administration publique Lorsque le gouvernement du Québec, sous Jean Charest, a exigé une plus grande participation des provinces canadiennes aux négociations et organisations internationales dont le Canada est membre, de nombreux commentateurs ont réagi très négativement, suggérant même que la question relevait plus du caprice identitaire que

Analysis
October 2, 2012

Guest contributor: ELIZABETH SHAKMAN HURD, Associate Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University. In the United States, religious freedom is described as the ‘first freedom’: a fundamental human right and a sine qua non of democratic politics. Americans, we are told, invented and perfected religious freedom. It’s ready for export, and exporting it we are. The

Canadian Foreign Policy

Analysis
September 26, 2012

Guest contributor: LIAM MAHONY, Director of Fieldview Solutions and a pioneer in the theory and practice of international protection When the international community struggles today with decisions about how to address the terrible civilian costs of armed conflict, the toolbox of potential approaches is significantly expanded from a few decades ago. Diverse armed and unarmed

Analysis
September 20, 2012

Guest contributor: KYLE MATTHEWS, Senior Deputy Director of the Will to Intervene Project at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (Concordia University) The Responsibility to Protect doctrine has many enemies. States that will not or cannot stop mass atrocity crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing) within their borders

Analysis
June 20, 2012

CIPS Policy Brief No.18, June 2012. By JOSHUA ROVNER, U.S. Naval War College. Some amount of friction is normal in relations between intelligence agencies and policymakers. However, intelligence-policy relations become pathological when policymakers neglect intelligence or politicize it. The flawed estimates of Iraq’s supposed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons were the result of a complete collapse

Analysis
June 16, 2012

CIPS is pleased to announce the appointment of John Mundy as Visiting Associate for the 2012-13 academic year. Mr. Mundy is a former Canadian diplomat. Before retiring in 2008, he held senior diplomatic appointments in Trinidad and Tobago, Iran and Australia. In 2007, he was appointed Canadian Ambassador to Iran during a very difficult time in bilateral relations.

Analysis
May 7, 2012

The Office of the Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) was established through legislation in 1984, in the same Act that created CSIS. The model was the U.S. practice of Inspector Generals, with a review and compliance function. In the Canadian case, the CSIS Inspector General (IG) was meant to serve as the ‘eyes

Analysis
April 27, 2012

The Ottawa Dialogue is a Track Two process involving a distinguished group of retired senior officials and military officers from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is led by Peter Jones, Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In a recent public statement, Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic

Analysis
March 15, 2012

CIPS Policy Brief No.17, March 2012. By DAVID PETRASEK, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights has set itself a sound objective: to challenge and equip visitors actively to promote human freedom and well-being. The Museum will fail to meet this objective, however, if it is overly historical in its

Analysis
March 8, 2012

Guest contributor: REX BRYNEN Professor of Political Science, McGill University In recent days, a social media-based campaign called KONY2012 has gone viral with worldwide calls for the arrest of Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA is responsible for 25 years of violence, child abduction, and forced sexual slavery, first

Analysis
March 5, 2012

CIPS Policy Brief No.16, March 2012. By STEVE COLL, New America Foundation. The NATO transition plan for Afghanistan is based on faulty assumptions and must be rethought before time runs out. The international community must invest in a successful political transition in 2014, lest fraudulent elections lead to renewed civil conflict in Afghanistan. Canada and

Analysis
February 25, 2012

CIPS Policy Brief No. 14 (February 2012). By TRITA PARSI. Barack Obama’s presidency began with a diplomatic outreach to Iran. However, the space for diplomacy turned out to be limited, due in part to the effects of Iran’s fraudulent 2009 elections and related domestic pressures on Obama not to pursue negotiations. The Obama administration consequently

Middle East

Analysis
November 25, 2011

Guest contributor: STEFAN WOLFF Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham, UK When Mohamed Bouazizi, a jobless graduate in the provincial city of Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia, about 200km southwest of the capital Tunis, set himself on fire on 18 December 2010 after police had confiscated a cart from which he was selling

Analysis
November 18, 2011

CIPS Policy Brief No. 13 (November 2011). By Daryl Copeland. Science diplomacy can play a critical role in addressing the complex transnational issues which feed underdevelopment and insecurity. Foreign ministries, multilateral organizations and science-based institutions are unprepared and ill-equipped to deliver. As long as defence continues to dominate the international policy agenda and to command

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