Trump-Inspired mob at U.S. Capitol Follows a Familiar Path of Election Violence

• January 11, 2021

The siege of the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters follows identifiable paths and patterns of election violence seen around the world.

Election violence is rarely spontaneous. It is intentionally organized in order to influence the process and outcome …

Track Two Diplomacy at Sixty

• January 7, 2021

In the early 1960s, a scholar named John Burton sought to challenge realist theory related to the resolution of conflicts.  Burton, who had formerly been a high-ranking Australian diplomat, sought other ways to address deep-seated conflicts than through the application of …

The Ties that Bind? The Increasing Complexity and Indeterminacy of Inter-Governmental Organisations

• December 17, 2020

The State-based system of international governance that evolved from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 is struggling in the face of contemporary realities.  Today, developments in technology permit instantaneous movement of capital and information, quick movement of goods, and the simultaneous …

Selling Human Rights Due Diligence in Canada

• December 15, 2020

On 29 November, Swiss voters gathered for a referendum. They affirmed that the country’s constitution should be amended to impose human rights due diligence (HRDD) requirements on multinational firms headquartered in Switzerland. The proposed amendment, which would require companies to …

The Trump “Truth Decay” Precedent and the Threat to Democracy Worldwide

• December 8, 2020

Despite the substantial victory of President-Elect Joseph Biden in the 2020 election, democracy in the US and indeed in the entire democratic world may well be in dire trouble. Proof of this is the results of a Monmouth Poll on …

Solitary Confinement in Canada’s Prisons: Time for Real Accountability

• November 26, 2020

Canada prides itself on a global image as a human rights champion. Yet, behind high prison walls, rights violations take place with impunity. Canada has a solitary confinement problem, and it needs to get fixed. 

Solitary confinement was the brainchild …

Réorganisation de la représentation du Québec dans le monde: Jouer la carte nordique

• November 23, 2020

Le Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec vient d’entrer dans une phase de réflexion pour recalibrer sa présence à l’étranger. Un redéploiement des bureaux et délégations québécoises est un exercice nécessaire afin de s’adapter aux …