Authoritarianism has Changed, and so Should our Approach to it0

• Analysis
• June 4, 2021

Authoritarianism is on the rise globally and democratic governments need to be better equipped to meet the challenges it represents, or at a minimum smarter about how they manage relations with authoritarian states.

For all the talk around a global …

Pour une politique étrangère féministe cohérente0

• Analysis
• June 4, 2021

La politique d’aide internationale féministe (PAIF) du Canada, initiée en 2017, vise à promouvoir l’égalité des genres, le renforcement du pouvoir des femmes à l’étranger et le rôle de celles-ci dans les initiatives en matière de paix et sécurité. …

What will Russia do as Arctic Council Chair?0

• Analysis
• June 3, 2021

On May 20, 2021, Iceland convened the 12^th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council (AC) in Reykjavik. Upon concluding its 2-year term at the helm of the AC, the host handed over the AC’s gavel to Russia. 

Russia’s assumption …

Iran’s Presidential Elections: Frustration with Principalism, Disappointment with Reform0

• Analysis
• May 19, 2021

Over recent years Iran’s political-social environment has undergone a considerable transformation in the relationship between the nation and the ruling system. This is a new chapter in the life of the Islamic Republic. This process can perhaps best be described …

Biden’s Redirection of the US Climate File Brings a Sigh of Relief for Environmentalists0

• Analysis
• May 17, 2021

You’re pushing a boulder up a steep hill when suddenly you lose your footing and get knocked back a few steps. Just getting back to where you were already will feel like a significant accomplishment. 

This is what the Biden …

(Re)defining Transatlantic Relations? Biden’s First 100 Days0

• Analysis
• May 13, 2021

A little over 100 days into President Joe Biden’s administration, an impressive U.S. diplomatic reset with Canada and the European Union is well underway to undo the damage of the Trump presidency. This is undoubtedly a welcome change, but it …

New Challenges Threaten Zimbabwean Democracy0

• Analysis
• May 11, 2021

Zimbabwe has been gripped by political controversy over the past six weeks, as opposition parties and activists objected to the passing of two bills amending the country’s constitution, threatening to erode Zimbabwe’s ailing democracy further. The bills pushed through several …

The Bank of Canada Must Seize the Pandemic Moment and Do More for Canadians0

• Analysis
• May 5, 2021

The Bank of Canada, like central banks around the world, is currently facing enormous upheaval and uncertainty due to the enduring COVID-19 pandemic.

Will its leadership seize the moment as an opportunity to innovate and respond to the challenges …

Federal Budget 2021: Foreign Aid0

• Analysis
• May 3, 2021

Canada talks an excellent game when it comes to foreign aid. Successive Canadian governments tout impressive-sounding new initiatives and brag about the country’s leadership on the world stage. Most recently, the Trudeau government has emphasized the importance of pandemic-related relief …

The Green Wave and a Historic Win for Abortion Rights in Argentina0

• Analysis
• April 21, 2021

In mid-2018, one million people took to the streets of Argentina to urge Congress to pass a bill that would legalize abortion. It wasn’t the first time, and it would not be the last. The Green Wave, as the …

The Rollback of Autonomy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Hong Kong0

• Analysis
• April 12, 2021

The world has watched in horror as Hong Kong is transformed from an open society with a liberal constitutional order into a repressive authoritarian regime.

Last year a new Beijing-imposed National Security Law (NSL) targeted freedom of expression with …

The Impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Aid0

• Analysis
• April 1, 2021

Across the Global South, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of socioeconomic progress, disproportionally harming poor people. Low- and lower-middle-income countries in particular are struggling more than ever to find the resources to support their citizens’ health and wellbeing at …