Centre For Disinformation Studies Chloe Ketels

QAnon and the Tale of America’s Subjective Reality

The rise of conspiracy theory communities on the Internet… And in American politics  Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon. However, in today’s digital environment, their role and importance has drastically changed. While these movements were previously mainly confined to obscure and secluded forums of the Internet, they now proliferate and flourish anywhere from Twitter Read More…

Security, Trade and the Economy

International Trade Implications on Canadian Business

Following a press release the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo made remarks on the theme of slowing global trade growth earlier this year. In 2017, there was optimism of renewed momentum in global trade which was backed by a 4.6% growth. This period of broad-based growth lasted throughout 2017 and into Read More…

Security, Trade and the Economy Tiffany Kwok

Growing Up, or Apart? : European Strategic Autonomy

The mutual dependency of nations for the purposes of protection is a normalized standard in international security. Yet, this complementary relationship is not one that is easily achieved and requires a lot to maintain. In recent years, the term ‘strategic autonomy’ has stimulated interest amongst a large European collective, producing both supporters and opponents of Read More…

Dr Robert M Cutler Energy Security

Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Gains Further Momentum

Following President Donald Trump’s Nowruz (New Year’s) message to Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stating that the United States Government looks forward to seeing the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCGP) built, the atmosphere has been changing in Washington in favor of the project. Twenty years ago, when the project was first being discussed, the American negotiators made Read More…

NATO and Canada NATO Operations

A Tale of Two Salmans

Thirty years after the “Satanic Verses” controversy, the transnational threat to freedom of speech and the press is more acute than ever. The recent murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi – likely orchestrated by Saudi Arabia – is a case in point. So far, the pressure has been on Washington to punish Saudi Arabia, but Justin Dell argues that this issue is too combustable to be left to bilateral relations. What is needed is a broader multilateral approach, first to holding Saudi Arabia responsible for Khashoggi’s murder, and then to uphold the universal values of freedom of speech and expression. Only then can some kind of justice be obtained without risking the further destabilization of the Middle East.

Society, Culture, and Security

Strongman Domination in World Politics: Why Political Systems Matter

Although many strongman leaders are portrayed as authoritarian, power hungry, and egotistic control freaks, Junior Research Fellow Ramesh Balakrishnan discusses how there is a world of difference between those leaders at the head of democracies versus those who are unelected and rule over dictatorships.

Society, Culture, and Security

Opinion: Helsinki and the Effects of Trump’s Pivot to Russia

The 2018 Helsinki Summit, held between Russia and the United States, indicates a pivot towards Russia by the Trump administration. In this article Junior Research Fellow Adam Zivo shares his thoughts on why that matters and what American Russophilia might mean for the future of Europe.