Canada is facing severe challenges. As bilateral relations deteriorate and international alliances rapidly shift, Canada must reassess defence priorities. Canada needs to start by aligning with the European Union and defence preparation in the Arctic. Long seen as an afterthought, northern borders are a key battleground for resources, trade and influence. Unaddressed global warming is Read More…
Articles
Where They Stand: Canada’s Federal Political Parties Defence Platforms 2025
This special report provides an objective overview of the newly elected minority Liberal government’s plans regarding defence and discusses proposals from other opposition parties.
Serbian Gas Deal Continues Azerbaijan’s Penetration of South-East European Energy Markets
In this article, Dr. Cutler outlines the new Serbian gas deal with Azerbaijan in the context of European energy trends and policies, as well as the BRUA pipeline project.
Nothing is Foreign Here: China, Japan, and the Influence of Narratives within American Policymaking
How do stories shape domestic articulations of foreign policy? In this special report, Jack Burnham discusses how the narratives surrounding the rise of China and Japan shaped American foreign policy debates.
From the Internet to Ashes: Disinformation and the Tigray War
What does war in the Tigray region show about the future of disinformation in ethnic and regional conflicts? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the role of gas-lighting and other information warfare techniques in the Horn of Africa’s most recent outbreak of hostilities.
No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy? The Marine Corps’ New Information Warfare Strategy
How does the US Marine Corps (USMC) intend to conduct information warfare over the coming decade? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the USMC’s Force Design 2030 initiative and its focus on countering disinformation and operating in the Indo-Pacific region.
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.
Did you know? 7 Facts About the Arctic Infographic
there are institutions focused on Arctic issues, and what the threats are to the Arctic.
“A Splendid Little War” Great Power Competition, Disinformation, and the Spanish-American War
What is the relationship between disinformation and great power competition? In this essay, Jack Burnham discusses the legacy of the Spanish-American War and the “yellow press” through the lens of great power politics, and its lessons for contemporary policymakers.
Like Father, Like Son? Disinformation and the Marcos’ Legacy
How did Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s son win power in the Philippines? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the country’s recent presidential election, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s victory, and the role of disinformation in Filipino politics.
Deception, Deceit, and the Dictator’s Dilemma: Russia, Iraq, and Authoritarian Propaganda
Why is the propaganda of authoritarian regimes often so blatantly false? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses Russia’s disinformation campaign surrounding the emerging global food crisis across the Middle East and Africa, Saddam Hussein’s influence operations, and the politics of dictatorship.
Fighting Familiar Wars on Foreign Shores: Disinformation, the American Right, and Uganda
How can disinformation be used to stifle human rights? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the connection between Uganda’s anti-homosexuality laws and the intervention of members of the American evangelical community.
Milgaard, the Hip, and Wrongful Conviction
Milgaard’s case highlighted the need for justice reform in Canada and abroad; his death serves to remind us that this type of reform still hasn’t happened.
House of Cards: The Suspension of the US’ Disinformation Governance Board
Why did the US Disinformation Governance Board fail? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the ill-fated US Department of Homeland Security initiative, and the implications for addressing disinformation within democracies.
Repetition or Rhyming? HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and Disinformation
Nearly forty years on and faced with another public health threat, what is the legacy of HIV/AIDS-related disinformation? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the parallels between the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 health crises and the proliferation of health-related disinformation during a time of great power competition.
NATO Needs to Act When Member States Curb LGBTQ+ Rights
Hungary frequently discriminates against minority groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, violating standards of human rights. In this article, Jordan McEwen and Diana Fodor discuss why NATO should intervene to address Hungary’s rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights.
Selling Stories by the Side of the Rio Grande: Immigration, Disinformation, and US Border Policy
How effective has the US been in countering falsehoods aimed at migrants from South America? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses how disinformation contributes to immigration northwards, and the Biden administration’s response.
No Child Left Behind? Education, Disinformation, and Media Literacy Classes
Do media literacy classes offer an effective policy solution to disinformation? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the rise of media literacy classes in the US and Canada and their impact on countering the effects of deliberate falsehoods on young people.
The Impact of Increasing Political Instability on Canadian Security
A look at Canada’s rising security issues.
Honesty Truly Is the Best Policy: Public Intelligence Sharing and the Russo-Ukrainian War
How have NATO states adapted to Russia’s use of disinformation? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the West’s strategy of public intelligence sharing and its impact on the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Short Loops and Tall Tales: TikTok, Disinformation, and the New Face of War Reporting
Why has TikTok become a hub for disinformation during the Russo-Ukrainian War? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the rise of the social media platform, its influence on the information space, and how it has reshaped war reporting.
Wolf Warrior-ism, Revisited: Great Power Competition During the Russo-Ukrainian War
What lessons can Russian disinformation campaigns provide for understanding China’s “Wolf Warrior Diplomacy”? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses the Russo-Ukrainian war, Chinese diplomacy, and the value of falsehoods in international relations.
Crossing the Rubicon To Reach Centre Bloc: Grievance Politics, Disinformation, and the Legacy of the “Freedom Convoy”
What threat does the “Freedom Convoy” continue to pose to Canada? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses protests in Ottawa and the role of disinformation in stoking and radicalizing grievance politics.
Another Big Bang? What Sweden’s Entry into NATO Could Mean for Countering Disinformation
What could Sweden’s entry into NATO mean for its fight against disinformation? In this article, Jack Burnham discusses NATO’s recent Madrid Summit and potential role for Sweden’s Psychological Defence Agency within the Alliance.
Rising Right-wing Extremism at Home and Abroad: A Global Perspective to Canada’s Freedom Convoy Protest
In this article, Jordan McEwen highlights the growth of right-wing extremist violence by looking at the Freedom Convoy Protest earlier this year.
Jean Chrétien Offers Up Wit and Wisdom at the NATO Association Gala.
Jean Chrétien, Canada’s twentieth prime minister, had his audience in an effervescent mood on March 15th at the Globe and Mail Centre. As the guest of honour at an event organized by the NATO Association of Canada to recognize Mr. Chrétien’s legacy in Canadian foreign affairs and his contributions to the evolution of NATO, he Read More…
NATO and the Philippines: The First Step Towards a Strategic Partnership
As tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific, the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has turned his attention to realigning with the United States and allies. This shift in policy from aligning the Philippines with Beijing in 2016- to a complete pivot to Washington- has now opened up possible opportunities for the US and Read More…
Fighting the Culture of Disruption: NATO’s Role in Countering External Sabotage and Homegrown Terrorism in Europe
On January 2nd 2026, 45,000 households in southwestern Berlin woke up to find themselves without power or heating in the middle of winter. Overnight, assailants set fire to a cable bridge near a power plant, disrupting parts of the Berlin power supply network for weeks. Even after power was eventually restored, the subsequent fallout from the city government’s lacklustre response has led to calls for the mayor, who had been caught playing tennis during Read More…
Shifting Priorities in Ukraine: Is NATO’s WPS Agenda Under Threat?
WPS policies are often disregarded when matters deemed of higher priority emerge, despite NATO’s high engagement of WPS values through public diplomacy, military, and political means. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has posed the biggest security crisis to NATO in decades, and considering the gendered dimensions of the war, which has seen high rates of sexual and gender
based violence, NATO’s limited WPS response leaves the future of the Agenda in question. As a core tenet of NATO’s values, WPS must not be disregarded; member states that have adopted FFPs, such as Canada, should continue to drive the WPS agenda forward. This article makes key recommendations, including shifting to a human rights-based approach (HRBA) and employing more intentional language in operational directives, to support Ukraine’s current WPS policies.
Divide and Conquer: How Gender-Based Disinformation Weakens Western Militaries
This article examines misogyny and broader anti-gender ideology as under-recognized vectors of hybrid warfare that undermine NATO’s democratic resilience, military cohesion, and Alliance legitimacy. It argues that foreign adversaries exploit entrenched patriarchal and exclusionary narratives through gender-based disinformation to exacerbate polarization, target political actors, weaken trust in defence institutions, and delegitimize NATO. The article concludes that the principles of NATO’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) policy counter foreign disinformation by limiting the impact of harmful gendered narratives and reinforcing pluralism, and what can be done to strengthen democratic resilience and NATO’s collective defence in an era of hybrid conflict.
Operation Equal Opportunity: Canada as a Model For Women in Combat Leadership
In July 2024, General Jennie Carignan became Canada’s first woman Chief of Defence Staff. This article centers her appointment as both a symbolic and institutional milestone in Canada’s effort to operationalize the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Tracing her leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces, the article demonstrates how offering equal access to opportunity is a prerequisite for military strength. Gen. Carignan’s leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces offers an example for NATO allies, who can similarly dismantle barriers to women’s leadership and embed inclusive military ethos. The article prescribes a series of pathways through which NATO allies can pursue institutional reform, thereby enhancing institutional quality and strengthening collective defence posture across the Alliance.
Special Report – Arma et Litterae: Reuniting Canada’s Civic Foundations
Author’s Note: This essay is offered as a conceptual case for the deliberate reintegration of Canada’s universities and Armed Forces as a matter of strategic sovereignty and civic resilience. It is informed by the development of the Serving Scholar Program at the University of Guelph, an initiative designed to support students serving in the Canadian Read More…
Japan’s Military Revival and North Korea’s Escalation: NATO’s New Indo-Pacific Challenge
As North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia intensifies, security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and Europe are increasingly intertwined. Nguyen Bao Han Tran analyzes how these developments have accelerated Japan’s defence transformation and prompted NATO to rethink its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners, highlighting the growing importance of transregional security coordination.
Rupture and Fury: Can Canada Build a ‘Counter-Power’ Model of Cooperation in a World Reordered?
What future is there for the ‘middle powers’ in a global order increasingly defined by unilateralism and revisionism? In this article, Joel Sawyer examines Canada’s role in building a new ‘counter-power’ network to define a new model of international cooperation
For Shame Upon the World: Lessons from the Crushing of Hong Kong
In June of 2025, Hong Kong Youth Activist Joshua Wong was brought in front of West Kowloon court to face more charges under China’s 2019 ‘National Security Law,’ which caused the 2020 protests so brutally repressed by the Chinese Communist Party. Accused of conspiring with fellow activist, and exile, Nathan Law to promote sanctions against China, Wong, Read More…
The Role of Government in Combating Gender-Based Disinformation
In July, 3 employees of TBH Skincare, an Australian brand, took part in a TikTok trend where participants described their physical attributes and pieces of clothing in a singsongy fashion. After the post went viral, various internet users began attacking the trend participants, with some insisting that they were the cause of the “downfall of Read More…
How Disinformation is Distorting Canada’s Climate Reality
Extreme weather in Canada has become both an environmental challenge and an information crisis. As record-breaking wildfires, floods, and heatwaves sweep across the country, Canadians are confronted with accelerating climate impacts and a parallel surge in misinformation and greenwashing that obscures the causes of these events, distorts policy debates, and weakens democratic cohesion. In recent Read More…





































