2022 CDSN Early Career Book Workshop Winner: Thomas Hughes
Thomas Hughes is a Postdoctoral student at the University of Manitoba and the 2022 CDSN Postdoctoral Fellow, having received his PhD from Queen’s University in August 2021. His primary areas of research are on confidence-building, deterrence, and strategic culture, with his award-winning dissertation focusing on how military exercises have been used to shape the political and security environment in Europe since 1975. His current research focuses on Arctic defence and security.
The manuscript addresses two tightly interconnected topics. The first section examines why the terms of the regime of Confidence- (and Security-)Building Measures (C(S)BMs) in Europe developed as they did, and how the regime has been viewed and used by participants. The second section is an assessment of the way in which the Soviet Union, Russia, and NATO have used military exercises as signaling mechanisms. This analysis highlights the differences in the way in which each actor perceived others’ exercises, as well as identifying when and why certain exercises were seen as particularly threatening.
Dr. Hughes plans to publish his book in 2023.
Andrea Charron: Russian Arctic military exercise draws awe and concern
CBC News
Murray Brewster
11 May 2020
KCIS 2019: Keynote Recap
By Bibi Imre-Millei, CIDP Intern
This year, the annual Kingston Conference on International Security (KCIS) focussed on the international order: whether it might change, and where that might lead world politics and security. The liberal international order led by the United States is being challenged not only by states such as Russia and China, but by new ideas, new capabilities, and new perspectives. KCIS set out to address the changes and challenges, and the variety of possible paths moving forward in this changing order. In this post, we focus on the keynotes of KCIS. We outline the insights from the speakers, and the corresponding conversations on Twitter!
Andrea Charron on CBC's The House
Russia and China act differently in the Arctic than in the rest of the world, experts say
By Chris Hall, host of The House
Canada is dealing with "two Russias" and "two Chinas" when it comes to the Arctic, according to two researchers.
Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba, says those two nations have very different approaches in the North, versus their abrasive approach to other multilateral world issues.
Russia, Denmark and Canada are currently jostling to see who gets sovereignty over the North Pole — a decision that will eventually be made by the United Nations.
While jurisdiction is still in question, Charron says Russia has been very cooperative in working with other nations in the Arctic.
"We have the Russia that we're very concerned about in Ukraine, we're very concerned about their activities in Syria, poisonings in the United Kingdom. There is a lot to be worried about," she said.
"But on the other hand when it comes to the Arctic, Russia is going to be essential for search and rescue."
Jennifer Spence, a fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation's Arctic Program, agreed.
Who gets to plant their flag at the top of the world? Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba, and Jennifer Spence, a professor of northern studies at Carleton University, talk about what's at stake and Canada's claims to the North Pole.
She added that China is also looking for partners as it watches the dispute from afar.
"You'll see you see that China's working very heavily with Russia because they have found that they have a very productive partnership that meets both their goals."
Spence added that kind of cooperation between China and Canada likely isn't possible.
"I'm not sure that will happen as easily in Canada especially with a partner with a close relationship with the United States who has its own concerns with China."
Charron said the same view could be applied to China, as to Russia.
"We have two Chinas. We have the China that can be cooperative in the Arctic [and] we have this other China whom we're very concerned about the advantage in the Arctic region."
However, no decisions on who claims the top of the world will be made in the immediate future.
Spence said it's likely going to be 30 to 50 years before any serious conclusion is reached — which could benefit China's political cycle.
"China has a 100 year plan. We have a four year plan, maybe."
