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Can Al Qaeda Compete With ISIL?0
- Analysis
- September 10, 2014
By Archana Sundarachari and Wesley Wark

The world’s attention has been riveted for weeks on the military exploits and brutal excesses of a relatively new jihadist entity, the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS or IS). …
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The Scottish Independence Referendum: How Did It Come About?0
- Analysis
- September 9, 2014
By Richard Wyn Jones, Cardiff University.

On the 18^th of September, the Scottish electorate will go to the polls to vote on the proposition “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Remarkably, it’s only now that the rest of the
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Russia Sanctions: Could Sports Have an Impact?0
- Analysis
- September 8, 2014
by Robert Hage

In a month’s time, the roar of Formula 1 engines will replace the clatter of downhill skies in Sochi as the Russian Grand Prix gets underway. The names of the competing teams will sound familiar in the …
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When Does Parliament Get to Vote on Military Deployments?0
- Analysis
- September 8, 2014
by Philippe Lagassé

Canada’s deployment of military advisors to Iraq has raised questions about Parliament’s role in deployment decisions. The Conservative government has decided that a parliamentary committee will be briefed about the operation. The New Democratic Party (NDP) deems …
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A Disturbing Trend in Journalism: Freelancers on the Front Lines 0
- Analysis
- September 8, 2014
The horrific deaths of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff at the hands of ISIS’s fanatical militants have been universally condemned in the civilized world for their savagery. But beyond the confirmation that ISIS is a band of bloodthirsty …
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Social Media and the Rise of Scholar-Blogging 0
- Analysis
- September 7, 2014
By Mira Sucharov, Department of Political Science, Carleton University

As the prominence of social media in society intensifies, the question of how scholars can most effectively engage in the public sphere has taken on new significance. In a piece …
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Where’s the Megaphone on the Threat to Canada?0
- Analysis
- September 7, 2014
Published in the Ottawa Citizen on September 6, 2014

The Conservative government has a strange way with public pronouncements on security issues. When it comes to the gravest of international crises, the government is prone to bold, headline-grabbing statements, whether …
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The Public is Back — But Not as We Knew It 0
- Analysis
- September 7, 2014
In sharp contrast to neo-liberal ‘hands off’ attitudes that shaped its past policies, the Harper government is considering a much greater public role in the economy, strategically targeting certain key sectors. Meanwhile, in response to growing concerns about the …
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Ukraine May Be in Crisis — NATO Is Not 0
- Analysis
- September 4, 2014
Published on OpenCanada.org on September 4, 2014

Historians and political scientists tend to yearn for turning points. The history of the Atlantic Alliance has been no exception to this and, in scholarly analysis, one ripe with defining moments. Since the …
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Spy Agency Watchdog Strikes a New Pose 0
- Analysis
- August 24, 2014
Published in the Ottawa Citizen, August 23, 2014

The old adage in the spy business, when it came to publicity, was “no news is good news.” That ceased to pass democratic muster in Canada only in the mid-1980s and …
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Is Putin the World’s Most Popular Politician?0
- Analysis
- August 17, 2014
Reviled in the West as a dictator, Russian president Vladimir Putin is enjoying a surge of support at home. According to the latest results published by polling organization Levada (which is generally considered hostile to the Russian government), Putin has …
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Afghanistan’s Never-Ending Election Multiplies Causes for Concern 0
- Analysis
- August 13, 2014
A relatively orderly and peaceful first-round election in Afghanistan this year saw an almost 60% voter turnout in defiance of Taliban threats, symbolizing Afghans’ determination to unite in the interest of peace and stability. The democratic process appeared to have …
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