Home
Analysis

Analysis

NATO, China and Afghanistan at the Security-Development Nexus 0
- Analysis
- February 24, 2014
By Kirsten Van Houten and Benjamin Zyla

Since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001, NATO has provided extensive security and development assistance to Afghanistan. While NATO is slated to withdraw from Afghanistan later this year, the international …
READ MORE
Shale Gale or Shale Fail? Will North America’s Leaders Miss the Boat on Energy?0
- Analysis
- February 21, 2014
by Monica Gattinger

At the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico this week, Prime Minister Harper, President Obama and President Pena Nieto committed to tasking their respective energy ministers to meet in 2014 to “discuss opportunities to promote common strategies …
READ MORE
Aid Budgets or Poverty Reduction? Worry About the Right Priority First 0
- Analysis
- February 20, 2014
The federal government announced a 7.5% cut in Canada’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget for the fiscal year 2012. In addition, former CIDA funds not spent (and thus lapsed) represented close to 10% of CIDA’s aid budget for 2012. The …
READ MORE
Time for an Open Debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement 0
- Analysis
- February 18, 2014
On February 22, trade ministers from the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement will meet in Singapore. Reaching a final signed agreement is unlikely, given U.S. Congressional resistance to ‘fast tracking’ President Obama’s authority to sign off on …
READ MORE
Off to Tel Aviv: The Latest Strange Diplomatic Appointment 0
- Analysis
- February 12, 2014
Shortly before the Prime Minister’s January trip to the Middle East, the Harper Government announced its choice to fill Canada’s long-vacant ambassadorial chair in Tel Aviv. Vivian Bercovici—a Toronto lawyer, occasional commentator on Israeli affairs and backroom Tory loyalist—is the …
READ MORE
Has Canada Finally Discovered Digital Diplomacy?0
- Analysis
- February 7, 2014
After years of sitting on the sidelines, Canada finally seems to be taking social media seriously as tool of diplomacy. Foreign Minister John Baird delivered a speech on Friday—appropriately in Silicon Valley, the world’s capital of technological innovation—embracing digital diplomacy …
READ MORE

Diplomatic Prospects for Supporting Democracy Development 0
- Analysis
- February 5, 2014
By Jeremy Kinsman, University of California and Ryerson University

Jeremy Kinsman will be speaking at the CIPS panel ‘Is Democracy Rising or Receding?’ on February 14, 2014.

From its inception in 2007, the international project A Diplomat’s Handbook for …
READ MORE
When Policy Coherence is a Bad Thing 0
- Analysis
- February 3, 2014
In July 2013, when the government abolished the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and transferred its functions to the newly renamed Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), it did so mainly in the name of policy coherence. The …
READ MORE
Four Myths About Russia 0
- Analysis
- February 3, 2014
The forthcoming Olympic Games in Sochi have served as a hook for Western commentators to indulge in a prolonged round of Russia-bashing. A collection of negative preconceptions about Russia continues to dominate discussions of that country. Four of them are …
READ MORE
Refugee Protection and Human Rights: Nothing Bogus About It 0
- Analysis
- January 31, 2014
By Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada

Watch the video of Alex Neve’s CIPS talk: Protecting Refugees: It’s a human rights issue

The lambasting that Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews received from federal Immigration Minister Chris Alexander last …
READ MORE
Reflections on Aid and Security in Afghanistan 0
- Analysis
- January 30, 2014
This is a follow-up to the excellent and timely comments by Professor Roland Paris on the implications of an attack by the Taliban on a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, a few weeks ago.

Taliban attacks are common in Afghanistan, including …
READ MORE
Ironic or Apt? Experiencing NATO 0
- Analysis
- January 26, 2014
By Stephen Saideman, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University

Stephen Saideman will be giving a talk at CIPS about his newly-released book on January 28, 2014

I am not sure whether it was ironic or just especially …
READ MORE