Canada, NATO, and Global Russia

Published date01 June 2018
Date01 June 2018
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1177/0020702018786080
Subject MatterPolicy Brief
Policy Brief
Canada, NATO, and
Global Russia
Nicole J Jackson
School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Abstract
Today Russia poses significant challenges that require sophisticated responses from both
Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), yet more research is
needed on almost all aspects of policy development. Academic experts on NATO
and Russia could contribute significantly to this process. To this end, collaboration
and engagement among those experts with each other’s literature would be highly
beneficial. Appropriate methodologies must be developed to answer questions about
Russia’s specific intentions, test the assumptions upon which NATO and Canada’s
policies are founded, and discover and respond to the root causes of Russia’s discon-
tent. Policy options should be based on detailed knowledge of global security dynamics,
as well as high-quality analysis about Russia’s rhetoric and its varied use of hard, soft, and
sharp soft power in regional and global cases. A research network on these topics could
help decision-makers respond to these complex developments by approaching them
through ‘‘the eyes of our adversaries,’’ clarifying the big picture of hybrid warfare and
also the micro-level details.
Keywords
Canada, NATO, Russia, deterrence, hybrid warfare, foreign policy, defence policy,
research capacity
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the West’s key alliance dedi-
cated to peace and security, has radically transformed itself since the end of the
Cold War. The most recent phase of this evolution came in response to Russia’s
actions beginning with its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Abruptly, Russia moved
back to the centre of major global security challenges and forced NATO to focus
once again on Moscow’s challenge. As a key member of NATO, Canada is playing
an active role in responding to Russia’s often aggressive rhetoric, military build-up,
International Journal
2018, Vol. 73(2) 317–325
!The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0020702018786080
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Corresponding author:
Nicole J Jackson, Simon Fraser – School for International Studies, 7200–515 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4Y2, Canada.
Email: nicole_jackson@sfu.ca

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