CALL FOR PAPERS Shaping Defence: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Future of Military Operations,
The inaugural student-led research conference, Shaping Defence: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Future of Military Operations, will take place on March 19, 2025, at Carleton University, Ottawa.
This event is hosted at Carleton University, supported by the Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN), and funded by Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (Young MINDS). This conference provides a unique platform for students, scholars, and emerging leaders to share innovative perspectives on critical issues shaping the future of defence and security.
About the Conference
This year’s theme focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in military and defence contexts. We seek to explore how inclusive leadership, intersectionality, unconscious bias, and innovative approaches to measuring DEI can drive cultural transformation and improve decision-making in defence and security. The conference aims to foster bold ideas and meaningful discussions that contribute to building an inclusive, innovative, and effective military culture aligned with the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) goals.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions from undergraduate and master’s and PhD students across disciplines, including political science, international relations, history, public policy, and other fields relevant to defence and security. Submissions may include:
• Research papers exploring theoretical, empirical, or policy-focused aspects of DEI in military operations.
• Case studies examining best practices or lessons learned from NATO, CAF, or other military contexts.
• Policy proposals or frameworks offering innovative approaches to integrating DEI in operations.
• Innovative projects showcasing creative methodologies, technologies, or strategies that address DEI challenges in defence contexts.
All submissions will be reviewed based on originality, depth of analysis, and relevance to the theme. Selected papers will be presented at the conference, with high-quality submissions considered for publication post-conference.
BGInS Fellow-in-Residence
About the Position:
The Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program in the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs at Carleton University invites applications for an eight-month Practitioner-in-Residence position. The program is interested in candidates working on projects of global and international significance. The area of expertise and teaching is open, but we are particularly interested in candidates who can teach in the area of international cyber security and cyber warfare policy and who will work with our students on a team project course that addresses practical issues from a practitioner perspective. The successful candidate is expected to be in residence in Ottawa, Canada and take the award during Carleton’s academic year (September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026). The appointment will involve delivering one public lecture, teaching one course in each term, and regularly engaging with BGInS students, including during weekly in-person office hours. In one term, the Practitioner is expected to teach a fourth-year honours seminar in the area of their expertise, covering key debates in global and international studies. In the other term, the Practitioner will teach a team learning, policy-based, experiential learning course in the area of their expertise.
Qualifications:
The applicant should have an impressive record of public policy engagement in the broad field of global and international studies, ranging from work in the public service, diplomacy, policy research arena, civil society advocacy, development, international litigation, or security services.
*Applicants who have successfully held this position in the past are asked to wait two years before reapplying.
Application Process:
Candidates should submit a single pdf document that contains:
A cover letter outlining their suitability for the position of Practitioner in Residence
An updated CV
An outline describing the Team Project Course (courses meet once per week for twelve weeks)
A paragraph describing the Fourth Year Seminar Course which focuses on their area of expertise.
Please submit your application to the following email address by January 15, 2025
visitingpositionsbgins@cunet.carleton.ca
Policy Officer Recruitment Programme
We will be accepting applications via jobs.gc.ca from October 15-30, 2024, for an anticipated employment start date in September 2025.
We would also like to invite you to attend one of our upcoming virtual information sessions to learn about the PORP, what it entails, why and how to apply; to get useful tips on each step of the application process; and to position yourself for a dynamic career that will allow you to shape your future and shape Defence. Please note that the information presented in each session will be the same, so you only need to join one of them.
There will be three (3) info sessions in English (all times Eastern):
Friday, 4 October, 14:00-15:00, in English. Link.
Wednesday, 9 October, 13:00-14:00, in English. Link.
Friday, 11 October, 9:00-10:00, in English. Link.
And three (3) info sessions in French:
Friday, 4 October, 10:00-11:00, in French. Link.
Wednesday, 9 October, 9:00-10:00, in French. Link.
Friday, 11 October, 13:00-14:00, in French. Link.
For more information on the programme, please visit canada.ca/defence-porp. We encourage you to consult our FAQ to find the information you may be looking for!
What is a Defence Policy Officer?
Defence Policy Officers help inform government decision-making by providing sound advice, recommendations and analysis on an array of pressing defence and security issues that are constantly evolving, such as information warfare, continental defence, great power competition, the Arctic, climate change, cybersecurity, disarmament, disaster response, procurement, multilateralism, peacekeeping, etc.
For example, they:
provide advice to the Minister of National Defence and senior defence and military officials on a variety of current and emerging issues;
maintain bilateral relationships with international Allies and partners;
analyse and make recommendations on courses of action;
provide support and guidance to the Minister and senior officials on Parliamentary, Cabinet and Committee processes, and issues; and
provide policy support to military operations and exercises.
Defence Policy Officers are typically based at the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. There may also be opportunities to travel both domestically and internationally as part of regular or special working assignments. For example, members of the programme may get to temporarily work at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York to assist with preparations for the UN General Assembly High-level Week. In addition, after graduating from the programme, there are opportunities for longer international postings and to deploy on CAF operations around the world to act as Policy Advisors.
Essential qualifications
To be considered for the PORP, you must:
be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
have a Master’s degree in the social sciences, arts and humanities, or other security and defence related disciplines from a recognized university, and/or a Juris Doctor;
have successfully completed at least one university-level course in sociology, statistics or economics, or demonstrate a combination of education, training and/or experience in one of these subject areas;
be proficient in English or French;
have experience researching, analyzing, and writing on subjects related to international affairs, defence and/or security or public policy;
have an interest in national and international defence and security issues.
You must also have the ability to:
communicate effectively orally and in writing;
conduct research and analysis and synthesize information;
work under pressure with tight deadlines;
work effectively with others.
You must also demonstrate:
commitment to continuous learning;
integrity and respect in a diverse and inclusive environment;
judgment and ability to think things through;
initiative and leadership;
adaptability.
What we offer
Full-time, permanent employment
Individuals hired through the Policy Officer Recruitment Programme are offered a full-time, indeterminate (permanent) position in the Policy Group at the Department of National Defence. The PORP is not an internship, a contract, or an academic program.
The programme covers a period of three years during which participants get three one-year work assignments in three different divisions within the Policy Group. Our rotational programme allows employees to be exposed to a variety of issues, types, and styles of work, and gain meaningful experience.
New policy officers work on pressing defence issues and military operations covering a wide range of topics, from culture change to emerging technologies, below threshold conflict to climate change, to intelligence, and more.
Members of the PORP are hired as Developmental Policy Officers at the EC-02 level (Economics and Social Science Services Group), and remain at that level for their first year in the programme. PORP members are then promoted to Junior Policy Officers (EC-04 level) in their second year, if they meet the necessary requirements. After three years in the programme, PORP members will be assessed for graduation as a Defence Policy Officer, at the EC-05 level, and offered a position within the Policy Group.
For more information, view the rates of pay for all levels of the Economics and Social Science Services Group.
PORP members moving to Ottawa are also eligible, under certain circumstances, for a relocation allowance, to a maximum of $5,000. Find more details about the Government of Canada’s relocation policy.
Continuous learning opportunities
At its core, the PORP is a professional development programme that will round-out your academic experience and help you hone your skills in areas like writing in a professional context, strategic thinking, and negotiation skills.
In addition to the on-the-job learning opportunities offered by the three work rotations, training is done through a combination of classroom and on-line courses, ad-hoc learning opportunities, mentoring, and special projects or assignments. Full-time, paid second language training is also provided for those who are not already proficient in both official languages.
All participants of the program participate in a Canadian Forces Base Tour during their first year, to familiarize themselves with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. This allows them to learn more about operational issues, equipment, and life in various military units outside of Ottawa, and how this relates to their own work at headquarters.
An open and welcoming work environment
The PORP hires five to eight individuals on average per year. Our cohort hiring practice means that from day one you have a built-in network of peers, as well as the opportunity to tap into the vast network of other PORPs and program alumni.
The Policy Group maintains an ongoing, open dialogue about ensuring ours is a supportive and inclusive work environment where people thrive.
We recognize the dignity and worth of each member of the organization and all facets of their identity (including gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, ability, etc.) and we are committed to creating and fostering an environment where this diversity is valued, inclusiveness is reflexive, and everyone, at all levels, can feel enabled and included to do their best work.
We understand that the light shed on instances of harassment and sexual misconduct in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces may be cause for concerns for potential PORP applicants, especially for women, members of LGBTQ2+ communities, racialized people, and other individuals who are underrepresented in the defence and security environment. Should you want to be connected with a current member of the Policy Group to discuss their experience working with us, please do not hesitate to contact us at PORP-PRAP@forces.gc.ca.
How to apply
Applications are accepted during an advertised process, typically on an annual basis each Fall, for a two-week period.
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments not addressed on this website, you can send us a message at PORP-PRAP@forces.gc.ca.
CPSA: The Politics of Belonging: Conflict, Community, Curriculum
The politics of belonging are ubiquitous at the international, national and local levels. Conflicts at the global level often revolve around competing claims to territory. These protracted conflicts pit contested visions of belonging: Who does this territory belong to? And who belongs to this territory? Scholars of ethnic conflict know all too well how identity politics can intersect with other factors to fuel intra-state conflicts.
Yet the politics of belonging do not only play out at the global level. Nor do they necessarily breed violent conflict. Local communities across Canada have experienced heated conversations around belonging that challenge the longstanding model of multiculturalism. From divisive debates around immigration to the rise of nativism, who belongs – and who does not belong – are central questions underpinning difficult discussions around citizenship and nation-building. While Québec’s Bill 21 has generated much discussion in media and scholarly circles regarding religious community rights, provinces such as Alberta have also waded into the waters of identity politics by threatening the rights of the transgender community. These and other recent developments reveal the need to recognize the intersectional nature of the politics of belonging as race, gender, religion, class, sexuality, etc. intersect in various ways to include/exclude different communities.
Finally, the politics of belonging clearly inform our practice as teachers in the classroom as we are confronted with the challenge of updating our curricula. As the political science community works towards Indigenizing our discipline, we are reminded of the narrowness that long informed our approach to teaching in this field. Yet as we work to Indigenize our curricula and decolonize our universities more broadly, we ought to take note of the recent developments and pushback against critical race theory in our neighbor to the south. Despite the repeated invocations to academic freedom, the university curriculum is clearly not immune to the politics of belonging in our wider society and continues to be shaped by coloniality.
While we welcome a diversity of approaches, perspectives, and topics in this call for papers, we encourage you to reflect on the ways in which the politics of belonging shape our world, communities, and wider profession. As such, we look forward to receiving your paper proposals and to engaging in thought-provoking discussions at George Brown College in Toronto in 2025!
The Programme Committee also invites submissions in all areas of political science, spanning one or more of our 16 disciplinary sections and competitions (3MT and Posters).
CDSN welcomes our new Post-Doctoral Fellow:
Manaswini Ramkumar is the CDSN Postdoctoral Fellow 2024-2025 at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. She is completing her PhD in International Relations at the School of International Service, American University in Washington DC, where she examines civil-military relations in the context of democratic erosion. She also studies postcolonial statebuilding, subnational democracy, and authoritarian resistance. Her work has been funded by American University, The Association for Documentary Editing and the American Political Science Association. She received her MPhil in IR from American University and MSc in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore where she previously worked as an Associate Research Fellow in the Military Studies program and was a lecturer in Professional Military Education to the Singapore Armed Forces.
