Global Security

"Failure Of Diplomacy"

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:46:16 +0000

Metro Morning host Matt Galloway spoke about the situation in Syria with Abdurrahman Omar, he is a local member of the Syrian Canadian Council. Then Matt spoke with Paul Heinbecker. He is Canada's former Ambassador to the UN, and now a fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Former Canadian ambassador to the UN, Paul Heinbecker, speaks to Yahoo! about Harper’s trip to China

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:34:39 +0000

Stephen Harper leads a delegation to China, this week, hoping to build economic ties with the middle kingdom - a relationship he once avoided because of the Chinese government's human rights abuses.

Yahoo! Canada News spoke to Paul Heinbecker, formerly Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, Monday, about Harper's trip and his new approach to Canada-China relations.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Jean-Claude Duvalier should be tried for more than corruption

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:20:38 +0000

Pull Quote:

The last thing (Haiti) needs right now is a resurfacing of Duvalierism, something that would be made possible if the government of President Martelly decides to go easy on Baby Doc.

Why Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier, Haiti’s “president for life” from 1971 to 1986, decided to return to his native land a year ago is a mystery. Exiled dictators are not supposed to go back home, lest they expose themselves to charges of human rights violations and/or corruption. With some 30,000 people killed or “disappeared” during his 15-year rule, and $300 million to $800 million (U.S.) in estimated embezzled funds, one would think this would be of some concern to Duvalier.

Syria and China

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:25:17 +0000

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in China this week to promote trade. He will also use the visit to try and convince the Chinese to back down on their UN support of the embattled Syrian regime. Foreign Affairs watcher and CIGI Chair in Global Security David Welch explained why China supports the current regime in Syria and whether Canada has any real influence on this issue.

Policing in Palestine: Analyzing the EU Police Reform Mission in the West Bank

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:59:40 +0000

Police reform in the Palestinian Territories has faced many challenges. Rebuilding the police force in a post-conflict environment is not an easy task, and must take into account the community’s needs in order to build legitimacy. In 2006, the European Union Police Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support was established to support the short-term objectives of the Palestinian Civil Police and provide longer-term transformational change assistance. This issue paper discusses a number of questions to address gaps in the evaluation of police reform efforts.

Ship of fools

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:41:36 +0000

TORONTO — The temperature of the west’s relations with Iran is hot and getting hotter, and activists North America-wide are getting out their “No war on Iran” placards for a major mobilization this weekend (February 4).

The EU recently imposed sanctions on Iranian oil (to take effect in July), and this week U.S. director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. ratcheted up tensions when he charged that some Iranian leaders are now willing to conduct an attack on American soil.

Russia and China provide cover for Assad’s Syria

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:31:49 +0000

Pull Quote:

Russian and Chinese support for the Syrian regime will ensure two powerful Security Council vetoes to any resolution calling for armed intervention and toughened economic sanctions.

Gulf Arab countries, led by Qatar’s Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, have stepped up their criticism of the Syrian regime and recalled their observers from the Arab League mission to Syria. It is expected that they would favour a United Nations resolution advocating military intervention. But don’t expect much to transpire. As the death toll continues to rise above 5,000 Syrian lives, it is time to come to terms with the likelihood of a protracted stalemate.

Strategic Support to Security Sector Reform in Afghanistan, 2001-2010

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:59:03 +0000

A lack of strategic direction and political agreement in security sector reform (SSR) in Afghanistan is an ongoing struggle. This issue paper focuses on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, in addition to police and army reform. Through two case studies, the paper considers the weaknesses of an SSR process driven by operational activities without a clear overall strategy. The Office of the National Security Council in the Afghan government, and its role in the lack of strategic direction in SSR, is examined.

International community’s foreign assistance to Pakistan should prioritize civilian institutions, says new CIGI paper

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:21:42 +0000

Pakistan’s poor record on security governance has severe implications for global security and should be addressed by the international community through conditionality on military assistance and support for civilian institutions, says a new paper issued by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

Art frames terror and security

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:33:21 +0000

Pull Quote:

The most basic questions of our security have, for too long, been settled behind a veil of expertise and secrecy. These artists take these questions out of the hands of elites and place them back in the arena of public debate where they belong.

On Thursday, renowned artist Daisy Rockwell will visit The Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo for a free public discussion with Pakistan security expert C. Christine Fair. The divergent backgrounds of these two speakers raise a very basic question: What does art have to do with security?