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Six Ways for Harper to Reclaim the National Security Agenda 0
- Analysis
- October 11, 2013
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is “very concerned” about revelations of Canadian spy activity targeting Brazil. So he should be. The operation by the Communications Security Establishment Canada, our electronic spy agency, looks to have been ill-advised and a …
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Democracy Promotion and the Role of the ‘Democratic Emerging Powers’0
- Analysis
- October 9, 2013
by Gerd Schönwälder

A preview of the conference on ‘Promoting Democracy: What Role for the Emerging Powers?’ to take place at the University of Ottawa on October 15-16, 2013.

Millions around the world continue to name democracy as their preferred …
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Holy Fools of Diplomacy in the Harper Era 0
- Analysis
- October 8, 2013
Published in the Toronto Star, October 7, 2013

In detective novels, the most swaggering posture is a hard-boiled one, wise to the ways of the world and expecting venality at every turn. The same holds true in diplomacy, commonly …
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Does Anyone Remember Iraq?0
- Analysis
- October 8, 2013
On October 5, a suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad, and another detonated his explosives inside a cafe north of the capital—the deadliest of several attacks across Iraq that day, killing at least …
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Harper, Baird and Multilateral Cooperation 0
- Analysis
- October 5, 2013
Familiar stories came out of New York over the past two weeks as the global community assembled for the annual UN General Assembly debates. John Baird’s speech on September 30, while appalling in style and policy content, was free of …
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When Prodigal Jihadis Come Home 0
- Analysis
- October 1, 2013
Published in the Toronto Star, September 30, 2013

It’s getting to be a familiar theme that Canadians’ global origins and global mobility can intersect frighteningly with currents in Islamist terrorism. Two Canadians were killed in this month’s Al Shabab …
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Iran’s Diplomatic Opening is a Test of Intentions 0
- Analysis
- September 30, 2013
by John Mundy

Published in the Globe and Mail, September 30, 2013

For the first time in many years there are hopeful signs that Iran is prepared to negotiate a comprehensive deal on its nuclear program with the United …
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Relief Not Regret Over Harper’s UN Absence 0
- Analysis
- September 29, 2013
John Baird’s address to the UN today, his third, is likely to cover familiar ground: long on rhetoric, short on constructive policy. Regarding the important developments last week on Syria and Iran, Baird will insist that both countries will be …
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Forget the Public Diplomacy, Iran and the U.S. Have a Long Road Ahead 0
- Analysis
- September 26, 2013
Published in the Globe and Mail, September 26, 2013.

The past weeks have seen a shift in Iran-U.S. relations. Instead of the usual bombast we are seeing measured, even respectful points from the two presidents. We hear that Iran’s …
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Terror 2.0: Kenya’s #Westgate and a New Face of Terrorism 0
- Analysis
- September 26, 2013
by Joshua Ramisch

The harrowing images from Nairobi’s burning and blood-soaked Westgate Mall have come not just from journalists but from the cellphones nearly everyone in the building was carrying. Twitter has been alive with updates from all sides: from …
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Event Report: Ahmed Rashid on Pakistan’s Next Chapter 0
- Analysis
- September 19, 2013
On September 12, journalist and author Ahmed Rashid spoke at CIPS on Pakistan’s current challenges and its prospects for coming years. The present situation, he declared at the outset, is grim. Three separate insurgencies are causing mayhem; the economy is …
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Harper Must Square the Provincial Circle on CETA 0
- Analysis
- September 18, 2013
Earlier this month, as he was leaving the G20 summit in St. Petersburg, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that there was still no deal on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union (EU). At the same …
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