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Analysis

Moral Confusion in Gaza and Ukraine 0
- Analysis
- August 1, 2014
In my last post for the CIPS Blog, I drew readers’ attention to Robert Entman’s 1991 article comparing media coverage of the shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007 in 1983 and Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988. It is …
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Ethnic Divisions Mar Afghanistan’s Second-Round Elections 0
- Analysis
- July 11, 2014
The Afghan election, which started with enormous enthusiasm from Afghan voters, the government and the international community, has turned sour. It is now marred with disputes centred on ethnic (mainly Pashtun/Tajik) divisions, splitting the country along ethnic lines and driving …
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Canada Needs to Reconnect with its Diplomatic Tradition 0
- Analysis
- July 10, 2014
The Harper government’s neglect of diplomacy has resulted in a largely ineffective foreign policy that has not served Canada’s interests, argues CIPS director Roland Paris in this video clip. His remarks were part of a panel discussion organized by Canadian …
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Un surréalisme inquiétant: le point de vue de Moscou 0
- Analysis
- July 10, 2014
À l’invitation du ministère de la Défense de Russie, du 22 au 24 mai 2014, j’ai assisté à la Troisième Conférence de Moscou sur la Sécurité internationale qui portait officiellement sur le Moyen-Orient, l’Afghanistan et l’Asie du Sud. Évidemment, compte …
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The Use and Abuse of Diversity in Canada’s Foreign Policy 0
- Analysis
- July 2, 2014
In late May of this year, the Ottawa Forum delivered a sparkling lineup of speakers who proposed new directions for Canada’s international policy. A recurrent theme of the forum’s discussions, in the words of co-organizers Taylor Owen and Roland Paris, …
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Wherefore the Air Force? A Review of Robert Farley’s “Grounded”0
- Analysis
- June 24, 2014
Robert Farley, Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2014).

The future of the U.S. military may be in Canada’s past, contends Robert Farley. The book’s main argument is that …
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Canada’s Iran Policy: ‘Reckless Rhetoric’ and More Out of Step Than Ever 0
- Analysis
- June 19, 2014
by John Mundy

Published in the Globe and Mail, June 19, 2014

Canada has a dysfunctional relationship with Iran and our government is proud of it. That is the underlying message of Foreign Minister John Baird’s latest statements about …
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Principles and Prejudice: Foreign Policy Under the Harper Government 0
- Analysis
- June 19, 2014
by Gerd Schönwälder

Values have been critical drivers behind the foreign policy making of Canada’s current and past governments, both Conservative and Liberal. However, the Harper government’s use of values-based foreign policymaking does not meet three criteria that would ensure …
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NATO Must Face Looming Challenges Now, Not Later 0
- Analysis
- June 18, 2014
Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are grappling with big decisions as they prepare for their September summit in Wales. What stance should they adopt towards Russia? Should they keep the alliance’s doors open to new members? And what …
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Global Military Spending by Region 0
- Analysis
- June 18, 2014
In previous posts, I presented charts illustrating the recent decline in Canadian military spending as a percentage of GDP, and comparing Canada to other NATO and G7 countries.

This post examines regional patterns in global military spending.* The charts …
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Where We Go From Here: Canada’s Strategic Opportunity 0
- Analysis
- June 18, 2014
Published on OpenCanada.org, June 17, 2014

The Canadian Conference of Defence Associations Institute’s Strategic Outlook (SO) 2014 published in February has nearly been dated by developments taking place around the world. In light of recent events, I examine some …
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The June 14 Elections Confirm Afghans’ Verdict Against the Taliban 0
- Analysis
- June 16, 2014
On the June 14 election day, Afghans again delivered an anti-Taliban verdict. Despite the strong Taliban offensive preceding the day, 7 million Afghans (60% of registered voters) cast their votes. True, the euphoria that dominated the first round was absent; …
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