Latest Research: Student Research

Home-Grown Radicalization: Where’s the Solution?

March 10, 2014

Canada is known globally for many things, a strong commitment to multiculturalism and a robust welfare state being just two of these accolades. A rapidly increasing growth in the former achievement and a declining ability in the latter to meet these new demands, however, have created new and pressing issues in regards to national policy. One of the most publicized and discussed issues that has arisen out of the past decade revolves around the notion of the “homegrown terrorist,” referring to individuals who have chosen violent means, or the financial support thereof, to achieve their varying ideological ends. Canadian policy makers and law enforcement officials have the ability to significantly reverse this growing trend.

Do Canadians Care About Mass Online Surveillance?

March 10, 2014

This January 28th is Data Privacy Day, a date marked around the world in support of data privacy and individual control of personal digital information. This year marks the eighth such holiday and the first since whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked a cache of classified documents, revealing the hither-to unknown surveillance capabilities and vast digital reach of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).

Canadian Intelligence: Do We Need Spies?

March 10, 2014

In the world of spies and foreign intelligence agencies, the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) are likely the first to come to mind.

What about Canada’s equivalent? Where are our foreign spies?

The answer is that Canada has never had a standalone agency for its foreign intelligence efforts, let alone one dedicated to clandestine human intelligence (HUMINT) collection abroad.

Discovering India by Motorcycle: 14,000 km, 60 Days

October 10, 2012

Asian Institute Affiliate Ryan Pyle and his brother Colin will spend 60 days tackling over 14,000 km of Indian roads by motorcycle, witnessing the country’s rapid road construction and infrastructure development firsthand.

Perceptions of Children Involved in War and Transitional Justice in Northern Uganda

March 1, 2012

This report documents Northern Ugandans’ attitudes towards returning children and transitional justice processes. The study was conducted in 14 sub-counties across the Acholi and Lango sub-regions of Northern Uganda from May to August, 2011. The authors surveyed 709 community members in war-affected communities, interviewed nearly 70 key informants across Uganda, and held 11 focus group discussions. This community-based approach to document Ugandan attitudes of children formerly affiliated with armed forces and armed groups, transitional justice, and children’s involvement in conflict is unique and offers a broad understanding of attitudes throughout the Acholi and Lango regions of Northern Uganda.

The Influence of the U.S. Armed Service on Two Presidential Assassins

August 22, 2011

This paper explores the effect the environment, training, and ethos of the U.S. armed forces had on the development of Lee Harvey Oswald and Francisco Martin Duran, and will conclude whether or not their experiences were fundamental to their capacity as assassins.