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.
March was not a great month for Canadian defence policy, even such as it is. It began with the publication by the CBC of a December 2023 Department of National Defence report stating that: “Only 58 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) would be able to respond if called upon in a crisis Read More…
There is an apocryphal quotation commonly attributed to Vladimir Lenin, that, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” This apposite reflection on the uneven velocity of historical change could have been written of the new, narrow epoch the Atlantic Community finds itself in at the current moment. Only five Read More…
To mark the 75th anniversary of NATO, the NATO Association of Canada, Toronto, organizes several events that will highlight NATO’s alliance and Canada. We received the following invitation: “We invite you to be a part of this initiative and share your organization’s contribution to NATO’s collective history.” My, or rather our “organization” is the Canadian Association Read More…
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the threat of pro-Kremlin disinformation in Europe has become a matter of increasingly pressing concern. This is particularly true for NATO members that provide Ukraine with significant military and humanitarian aid. Between February and March of 2022, Russia’s state budget for mass media increased by 433 percent, as “the audience and reach Read More…
Abstract: This article compares experiences gained in KFOR and ISAF and what they might equip Allied leaders to anticipate in the Western Balkans, should Moscow begin to create trouble on that front to shore up its position in Ukraine. Post-conflict missions and humanitarian operations conducted by NATO-led forces have revealed successes, lessons learned, and challenges to civil-military Read More…
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…
If you read “China” in Chinese, it actually means “Middle Kingdom.” It epitomizes why, politically and culturally, a significant proportion of the Chinese population believes that China is a superlative civilization that must restore itself to its “former glory.” Chinese emperors have fought for control of one of the longest-lasting empires on earth, from the mythical Read More…
The country of Myanmar is a failing state, where a civil war is raging on between the military and pro-democratic resistance groups. In February 2021, the military succeeded in staging a coup that overthrew the National Unity Government (NUD), which was led by the elected president, Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, the NUD has Read More…
Abstract: NATO’s recent discussion of arms control brings to light Canada’s role in the issue. Last year, NATO and the UN took part in the Eighth Biennial Meeting of State Parties to discuss how to combat the illicit sale of arms. During the meeting, the Deputy Director of Arms Control Directorate at the Political Affairs and Security Read More…
In this article Bogdana Torbina traces the roots of Ukraine’s corruption and analyzes the future of anti-corruption reforms for continued Western support and Ukrainian accession to NATO and the EU in this time of war.