The NATO Association of Canada’s Society, Culture, and Security program takes a look at the issues that impact Canadians’ every day lives while connecting them to international relations. The program covers a wide range of topics, which include: pop culture, art, film, global events, and socio-political relations. In addition, Society, Culture, and IR aims to examine and provide in-depth analyses that relate international affairs to the interests of Canadian society.
Despite the world being interconnected in a way it has never been, civilization finds itself torn apart by civil strife and disagreement. “Polarization” is the word of the day, and it has hit Canada hard. Recent years have seen the issue reflected in the rise of hate crimes, distrust of the government, and general violence. Read More…
Since 2020, there have been seven coups in six French-speaking West African countries. Many of them have involved conflicts between military groups or established governments supported by France, and by extension the West and NATO, and rebel groups or juntas supported by Russia. France’s role as the main patron of established power in these countries Read More…
According to the 2018 expert panel report on Combatting Money Laundering in BC Real Estate, money laundering activity is a rapidly growing issue in Canada. The industry, estimated to be worth $41.3 billion in 2015, grew 11.6% in only three years to an astounding $46.7 billion in 2018. In 2020, the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada estimated that money Read More…
Warning: This analysis contains spoilers. “Mr. President… sir, how is your policy evolving in the use of airstrikes against American citizens?” Alex Garland’s Civil War paints a searing picture of a dystopian America caught in the throes of civil war, a country divided by warring states and military violence. While the President hides in the Read More…
“In a time that is sooner than we think, we will be [our descendants’] ancient past, their history. What will they write about us?” This is the question posed by Ari Wallach in Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs, the author’s manifesto for advancing humanity. While Wallach’s book may fall outside the typical Read More…
The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) is an Islamic State affiliate that emerged in late 2014 as a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban. ISIS-K is an autonomous franchise operation granted by the Islamic State leadership; the “Islamic State” brand gives ISIS-K name recognition, credibility, and access to funding and resources. The militia Read More…
Last year, a new buzzword gained significant traction across the international community. Referred to as the “polycrisis,” this key term started circulating across media publications and research institutes before finding its way to the Swiss Alps, where it took center stage. At the 53rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos—a flagship conference dedicated Read More…
It’s been over two months since Alexei Navalny died in prison. Internationally recognized as Vladimir Putin’s leading critic, Navalny led a bold and courageous journey of challenging the corruption of the Kremlin. In 2011, he founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation to expose the government’s deceitful activities and actively led protests rallying against Putin’s regime. Navalny believed Read More…
VUCA. An acronym commonly used by organizational leaders within the business environment has now become all too relevant in the context of international affairs. V. Volatile. U. Uncertain. C. Complex. A. Ambiguous. This is the state that humanity currently finds itself in. Ranging from realities such as increasing levels of political polarization to the rise Read More…
In April of 2021, the United States government announced its withdrawal from what was at the time the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Twenty years of combat, 3609 dead NATO troops, and trillions of dollars later, Allied forces withdrew, and left the country vulnerable for the Taliban to seize control once again, like they had thirty Read More…