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

• 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 Environmentalists

• 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 Days

• 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 Democracy

• 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 Canadians

• 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 Aid

• 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 Argentina

• 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 Kong

• 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 …

The Impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Aid

• 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 …

Science and Technology in Canada-Japan Relations: Facing Together the Challenges of COVID-19 and Beyond

• March 24, 2021

On February 25, 2021, CIPS hosted the webinar “Facing the Pandemic Together: Canada-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation.” After an introduction by Ambassador Yasuhisa Kawamura, there was a lively discussion with Howard Alper (uOttawa), Melanie Cullins (National Research Council), Yuko Harayama …

The Pandemic, Borders and Refugees

• March 18, 2021

The global response to the spread of COVID-19 teaches us that, although border closures may be critical to fighting the spread of disease, they cause harm, often irrevocable damage, to many of the world’s most vulnerable, namely refugees and asylum …

The Forgotten History of Militant Conservatism in IR

• March 16, 2021

Even for those not listening, it is almost impossible not to hear the collective sigh of relief emanating from foreign policy elites across the globe. “Well,” they mutter (or cheer), “thank goodness that is over.” “That”, it hardly needs saying, …