Society, Culture, and Security

Special Report: Did NATO “Promise” Russia Not to Enlarge?

A common trope in Russia’s discourse about NATO is the charge that the organization has not dealt with Moscow in good faith. Many Russians, of which Putin is a particularly vocal example, allege that Western officials assured their Soviet counterparts during the Two Plus Four negotiations (West Germany and East Germany plus the US, USSR, France, and the UK) on German reunification in Read More…

Jordan McEwen Society, Culture, and Security

Putin’s War Has United Europe

In this article, Jordan McEwen discusses the European Union’s improved cooperation and how this may have been triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Contrary to those who maintain that Europe’s unity over Ukraine is fading, she argues that member states shared concern for their security may be allowing for better cooperation than ever before. 

Society, Culture, and Security

Special Report: Germany Must Abandon Ostpolitik

For over fifty years, Germany hoped that a conciliatory approach predicated on close economic ties, and diplomatic and cultural rapproachement in its Russia policy – commonly known as Ostpolitik – would warm Russia to the West. Two Russian invasions of Ukraine and many sanctions later, it has become abundantly clear that Berlin’s orthodox policy towards Moscow has Read More…

Centre For Disinformation Studies

Swords into Bullhorns: Modern Russian Information Warfare Practices and their Impact on the Ongoing War in Ukraine

In this article Griffin Cornwall analyzes the establishment of Russia’s information warfare policies and how they have impacted planning and messaging surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Eastern Europe and Russia Europe Griffin Cornwall Russia Security Trade

Lukashenko’s Gambit: Embattled Belarusian President Risks National Sovereignty Amidst Increasing Isolation from the West

In this article Griffin Cornwall examines the impact of the Belarusian Government’s dramatic arrests of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, the increased sanctions pressure from the West this action has brought, and the potential risks to Belarus’ national sovereignty brought by President Lukashenko’s retrenchment of his relationship to his longstanding ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin

Centre For Disinformation Studies

‘The Kids Are Alright’: How Young Journalists Find Ways to Report on Social Issues in Russia

In this article, Maria Zelenova examines how Russian independent journalists have been able to adapt under harsh censorship laws, creating a new ecosystem for reporting on important stories.

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.

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats NATO and Canada NATO Operations Society, Culture, and Security

A Captive State in Democratic Clothing: A Discussion with Consul General Andrii Veselovskyi

In a four part series, the NATO Association of Canada discusses the advance of Russia and Ukraine’s bid to join NATO with Ukrainian Consul General Andrii Veselovskyi. The inaugural feature discusses the reality of Russian intervention in Central and Eastern Europe, and analyzes how western misconceptions and acquiesce have led to a negligent disregard of Read More…