News Archives - The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs

With support from the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS) Dr. Alex Wilner and PhD student, Casey Babb have been awarded a research grant to undertake a year-long project to assess both the cyber and physical risks facing Canada’s energy sector. Aptly titled “The En-Threat Project: An Assessment of Physical and Cyber Terrorist Threats to Canada’s Energy Sector” this initiative will see Dr. Wilner and Casey traveling throughout Canada and the United States to meet with security officials and energy sector stakeholders, to better understand priority areas of concern, emerging threats, and mitigation strategies being used or considered within the cyber domain. Additionally, to get a more hands-on sense of potential physical vulnerabilities, Dr. Wilner and Casey will travel to and conduct site assessments of some of Canada’s most critical energy infrastructure and assets.

Ultimately, the intent of this research project is to inform Government of Canada officials, owners and operators of energy assets, and energy sector stakeholders of the current threat environment facing the sector, what these threats could mean from a national security perspective, and what steps could, or ought to be taken to ensure Canadians have a well-protected, reliable and resilient energy sector.

First, writing with Anna Jeffery, Jacqueline Lalor, Kathleen Matthews, Krystene Robinson, Alexandra Rosolska, and Catherine Yorgoro, Prof Wilner published a journal article on ransomware. The article, “On the Social Science of Ransomware: Technology, Security, and Society,” appears in Comparative Strategy 38:4 (2019).

A product of a 2018 Capstone project facilitated with partners at FINTRAC – Canada’s financial intelligence unite – the article, argues that ransomware (a type of malware that encrypts data and demands a financial ransom from victims in order to release them) is not solely a computer science problem but a security problem that has international, political, intelligence, and diplomatic ramifications. Using seven ransomware case studies, the article breaks down the technology’s technical barriers, making ransomware more accessible to public policy and national security debate and analysis.

Second, writing with James Balasch, Jonathan Kandelshein, Cristian Lorenzoni, and Sydney Reis, Prof Wilner published a think tank article exploring the challenge of disinformation and misinformation for Canadian democracy. The article, The Threat of Digital Foreign Interference: Past, Present, and Future, was published by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), a public policy think tank based in Ottawa (August 2019). A product of a 2019 Capstone project facilitated with partners at Global Affairs Canada, the article explains how hostile foreign actors employ digital foreign interference (DFI) against democracies. Special attention is placed on exploring how emerging advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) might facilitate future DFI campaigns. Lessons for Canada are drawn from recent events in Germany, the UK, France, and Taiwan.

These publications highlight both the success of the Capstone class and the high-quality of NPSIA students’ research. Congratulations all around!

Maclean’s Magazine Op-Ed
by Professor Wilner and MA student, Sydney Reis
What you should know about digital foreign interference

Professor Saideman in conversation with CBC’s Murray Brewster: Russian forces tested NATO’s ‘resolve’ during recent Black Sea exercises, says Canadian commander

Professor Lily talks with Hamilton News’ Mike Blanchfield: U.S. House breaks with no new NAFTA tabled for ratification. Now what?

Professor Carment and Professor Nimijean: Parties competing over values, not substance, in foreign policy platforms ~ The Hill Times

Professor Tepper talks with CTV News: U.S. and Russia Walk Away from Missile Treaty

Professor Tepper talks with CTV’s Merella Fernandez on the Hong Kong Situation

In Conversation with Professor Saideman: Shifts in Canadian Policy in Iraq

Policy Talks Podcast Episode 38 – The Iran Nuclear Deal: U.S. Withdrawal and Implications for the E.U and other Countries

Professor Saideman: What to expect from the meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-In ~ Global News with Supriya Dwivedi

Professor Tepper in the News

Professor Saideman in Conversation with Bill Kelly (Global News Radio): G7, Supply Management and Doug Ford’s Cabinet

Congratulations to NPSIA Fellow Professor Tepper’s on his appointment to the Research Advisory Board of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Congratulations to Dr. Alex Wilner and PhD student, Casey Babb on the receipt of a TSAS Grant for their “En-Threat Project”

Professor Carment and Professor Nimijean: Examining the Trudeau Government’s Branding Legacy ~ Canadian Foreign Policy Journal

Professor Saideman cited in analysis: the Trudeau brand takes a hit after Jody Wilson-Raybould testimony

Professor Saideman’s Cohen testimony tweet appears in multiple newspapers

Capstone and Publication Success: Professor Wilner and NPSIA Students Co-author Articles

Professor Saideman talks with Vox’s Zack Beauchamp: The weird, telling Joe Biden debate moment that didn’t get enough attention

Professor Leah West and Ph.D. Student, Jessica Davis: How much damage could he have caused? ~ CBC News, with Vassy Kapelos

Professor Manulak: “Canada urgently needs to promote disarmament and nonproliferation…” ~ Policy Options

Professor Carvin: RCMP official charged – may affect allies’ trust in Canada’s security establishment, with Mercedes Stephenson, Global News