Society, Culture, and Security

The Afghan Diaspora’s Double Dilemma: Mass Migration, Forced Repatriation

Afghan Mass Migration In recent years, Afghanistan has been a focal point of global attention due to the magnitude of its humanitarian crisis after the NATO withdrawal and Taliban takeover in 2021. Decades of persistent insurgency have resulted in widespread insecurity, creating a chaotic environment for individuals and families. The violence from such armed conflict has led Read More…

NATO and Canada

Assessing NATO’s Interventions in Afghanistan and Libya

This article examines NATO’s involvement in Afghanistan and Libya, assessing the motives and effectiveness of these interventions. Criticisms include a lack of coordination with stakeholders and potential economic conflicts among participating NATO members. The interventions aimed to promote security and stability but faced challenges. Lessons learned highlight the need for nuanced and context-dependent approaches in peace-building operations. The long-term impact of these interventions and their effectiveness remain subjects of ongoing debate.

Afghanistan Maya Gandhi Women in Security

Differing Perspectives: What the Taliban’s Rule Means for Afghan Citizens and Canadian Policy

Many women in Afghanistan have expressed that every day is a battle to be seen, heard, and recognized as autonomous members of their own communities. In August 2021, just as the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban regained power. With this came a promise to uphold women’s rights that would soon be broken. Eighteen Read More…

Justin Dell Society, Culture, and Security

Special Report: What Is to Be Done?

In this special report, NAOC Senior Editor Justin Dell argues that the Allied withdrawal from Afghanistan does not just constitute another military defeat for the West, but portends an existential crisis for Western civilization. If the leaders of the states that comprise NATO want to preserve the global order they inherited after 1945, and again after 1991, they need to get serious about their self-narrative in the 21st century.

Canadian Armed Forces Christopher Maternowski NATO and Canada NATO Operations

Language Lessons: Fate of Afghan Interpreters Exposes Gaps in Canadian Armed Forces Training and Recruitment

During operations in Afghanistan, mustering enough qualified linguists proved a constant challenge for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). These difficulties point to larger problems with how the CAF—and Canada—approach strategic languages.

Arash Toupchinejad Society, Culture, and Security

The Foreign and Domestic Perceptions of the Allied Presence in Afghanistan

The final departure of American troops from Afghanistan is set for September. This plan of withdrawal dates from the Trump Administration, which signed the bilateral Doha Agreement with the Taliban. It authorized the withdrawal of US and NATO forces if the Taliban agreed to prevent other terrorist groups from using Afghan soil. Although the Taliban has Read More…

Canadian Armed Forces Society, Culture, and Security Steven Hu

Leaving Together: Interpreters Risked Their Lives for Canada. It Is Time Canada Helped Them.

Photo: A Canadian soldier and an Afghan interpreter converse with an Afghan woman in Kandahar as part of Allied reconstruction efforts in that district. 08/26/2007. Picture by Cpl Simon Duschesne, via flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. On September 27th, 2015, Mohammad Omar Abdullah fled his home in Kabul, leaving behind his wife and daughters. Read More…

Afghanistan Arjun Singh Canada Lex et Orbis Morgane L. Holley NATO and Canada Previous Events

NATO’s Viceroy: The Commander-in-Chief’s Interview with David Lloyd Johnston

A bilingual discussion on the Constitution, national security and foreign policy with The Rt. Hon. David Johnston, the 28th Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada.

NATO Field School Series Uncategorized

The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Lessons from NATO Headquarters

Completed in 2018, the new NATO headquarters is meant to resemble interlocking fingers, evoking the unity and cooperation of the Alliance. Since its completion, artifacts and memorials have continually been added to the outside of the structure, including a piece of the Twin Towers, a replica of a Trabant, and sections of the Berlin Wall, Read More…

Elliott Simpson NATO and Canada NATO Operations

Last In, First Out: Two Decades in Afghanistan

Bagram Air Base – once the bastion of coalition forces in Afghanistan – is now empty of U.S. and NATO troops, bringing an effective end to their presence in the country. Elliott Simpson reflects on what should be acknowledged, and hopefully learned from their efforts over the past 20 years.