Security, Trade and the Economy

Special Report: China’s Strategic Complicity and the Hidden Engine Behind Russia’s War Effort

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been marked by limited battlefield success, with no indication of a divisive victory for either party or a peace settlement. Russia has had to cope with an almost systematic increase in sanctions in scope and scale in order to conduct its invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions aim to hobble Russia’s Read More…

Jackob Nicolas Society, Culture, and Security

A Well-Funded Military is not a Liability in the Fight Against Climate Change. It’s a Powerful Asset

Background Recently, a series of letters to the editor published in the Toronto Star scolded the Canadian government for allegedly siphoning billions of dollars away from climate change mitigation initiatives in order to fund dubious military investments. These letters argue that the government should prioritize environmental investments over military spending, suggesting that climate change poses Read More…

Nathaniel Borins Security, Trade and the Economy

NATO and Armenia: New Strategic Interests and Pathways Towards Contained Cooperation

For centuries, Türkiye has been a major player in the West’s economic, security, and international trade strategies. This has allowed Turkish governments to continue organized and popular discrimination and oppression against Armenians in Turkiye, which began before the Armenian Genocide of 1915 which Türkiye’s official position is to deny. Currently, an iteration of this situation Read More…

Kelsey Hickman Society, Culture, and Security

To Proceed Accordingly or with Caution: The United States’ post-election policy plans for NATO 

​​Shortly after President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, stepped up to the plate, a catalyst for the new tone for this election. The Democratic party quickly shifted support​ to their new candidate​, ​with Democrats ​breaking ​campaign ​donation records within three days​ of Harris announcing her Read More…

Nathaniel Borins Security, Trade and the Economy

Finland and Sweden: Newly Joining NATO and Changing Foreign Relations

Between spring of 2023 and 2024, one major change happened to the European security landscape. In April 2023, Finland formally joined NATO, with Sweden following in March 2024. This change was preceded by Russia having invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Political leaders from both NATO and the newly admitted members acknowledged that they were responding Read More…

Centre For Disinformation Studies Gleb Adamovych

Russian Disinformation and the West

In Vladimir Putin’s now infamous interview with Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson, the president continued a proud tradition of his Russian administration. The president spent hours rhapsodising Russia as a victim, a country that is perpetually under assault from the unjust and subversive forces of the West. This narrative is in line with the rhetoric Read More…

Nathaniel Borins NATO and Canada

How Young People in Canada and the USA View National Security

The main purpose of scrutinizing youth attitudes to international security is understanding the influence young people can have on security policy. It can be difficult to determine how salient foreign or military policy is for Millennial and Generation Z voters in determining their voting patterns. However, the high-profile youth opposition to ongoing American support for Read More…

Indo-Pacific and NATO Jackob Nicolas

The Importance of Taiwanese Sovereignty: Beyond Economics and Military Strategy

Recent media coverage of the West’s involvement in mitigating tensions between China and Taiwan has generally focused on the same handful of questions: Has China increased its aerial and naval drills near Taiwan’s shores, and why? What is the likelihood of a direct military conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan’s sovereignty? What Read More…

Jackob Nicolas Society, Culture, and Security

NATO’s Fate Under a Second Trump Presidency: Arguments Against Hopelessness and Fatalism

In many NATO member states, the United States’ impending presidential election is a major source of uncertainty and anxiety. Donald Trump’s recent comments at a campaign rally in South Carolina, suggesting that he would encourage the Russians to “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO allies that did not meet the alliance’s 2% of Read More…