Digital Commons Network^™

The Chips And Science Act: The United States’ Race For Semiconductor Sovereignty, Jenna Kawar

MA Major Research Papers

This paper explores the CHIPS and Science Act in the United States. The microchip is extremely crucial to the function of technology as a whole, and its global supply chain is monopolized by countries such as the US, China, Taiwan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Japan. The industry is fierce in competition, and holds many implications within political science, and international relations. The CHIPS Act is an Act that allocates funding toward the re-shoring efforts to manufacture and research the microchip on US territory. This paper explores the history leading up to the CHIPS Act, as well as the reasoning …

The Ambiguity In International Law And Its Effect On Drone Warfare And Cyber Security, Amina Khan

MA Major Research Papers

Drone warfare and artificial intelligence have considerably shaped cybersecurity and international law over the years. The rapid growth of technology has slowly forced entry into the international and domestic affairs of states. How countries conduct surveillance and practice defence does not look the way it did many years ago. One must observe how the rule of law is affected by technological advancement at the international level where many complexities are seen to rise to the surface. Balancing domestic and international law comes into question when drones and artificial intelligence become key components in state affairs that transcend geographical borders. This …

The Status Of Status In International Relations, Ryan Mcnamara

MA Major Research Papers

This literature review provides a comparative analysis of the four main approaches within the status paradigm (social-psychological, rationalist, constructivist, and social immobility) to determine their respective strengths, limitations, explanatory power, and scope conditions. While there are various elements of ‘status’ that the approaches converge upon, they diverge significantly in their understanding of the motivations and strategies adopted by status-seeking states, how status is a form of power that translates into deference, and whether status-based analyses can be applied beyond rising and established great powers. The review provides five case studies (China, Norway, United States, the UNSC, and Russia) to demonstrate …

The Effect Of Foreign Policy On Ethnic Outreach Campaigns: A Canadian Case, Mark Pompilii

MA Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

A Political Inquiry Into Double Standards And The Puzzle Of Common Humanity, Ameena Azeem

MA Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

(Re)Making Men To Make Peace: Masculinities, Ddr, And Peacebuilding In The Kivu Region, Zachary Matthews

MA Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Liberal Multiculturalism And Social Cohesion: A Dialogic Theory, M. Wiley De Paiva

MA Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Political Perceptions Of Modern Quantitative Easing A Qualitative Study Examining The Relationships Between Political Affiliation, The Perceived Institutional Legitimacy Of Central Banks, And Monetary Policy, Patrick Doodnauth Persaud

MA Major Research Papers

The variety of policy and philosophical positions that exist with respect to the legitimacy and functionality of central banking is vast, and this paper aims to address how these positions align with the traditional notions of the ‘left-right’ political spectrum. This research project aims to create a typology of monetary policy and central bank philosophies based on political ideology. The project will attempt to identify group differences in the perception of central bank legitimacy, central bank functionality, monetary policy, and the role of central banks in broader society.

Emerging Unconventionally; The Mavericks: An Analysis On The Development Of Western Canadian Political Parties Through Canada’S Newest Federal Party – The Maverick Party Of Canada, David Carlson

MA Major Research Papers

Born in 2020 Alberta, the Maverick Party is a new regionally focused federal party that

advocates for constitutional change that will "benefit the west." This party is being studied to

understand better the role it will have in Canadian politics.

Killer Robots On Trial: Autonomous Weapons Systems In The Context Of International Law, Mikaela Heck

MA Major Research Papers

Killer robots are no longer a facet of science fiction, but rather an imminent reality. The development of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) has been something states and military operations have been working towards to build their arsenal and change the landscape of conflict. With this changing landscape, these AWS fit within public international law in a unique way, existing somewhere in between a weapon and a combatant. With increased autonomy and diminished human control over their behaviour, AWS present an interesting dilemma to existing international legal structures, as they are typically written in a fashion designed to be adhered by …

Syrian Refugees In Canada Transition To Resettlement: Through The Perspectives Of Housing, Income, Female Resettlement, And Mental Health, Floranda Agroam

MA Major Research Papers

War, violence, and fear of persecution are three main reasons to seek asylum. Syria has been experiencing an ongoing civil war since 2011 which has resulted in the external displacement of over 6.5 million Syrians. The value that refugees bring to a nation is more than a statistic, but rather refugees help establish the growth and diversity of a nation, contribute to the economy and most importantly, they are guaranteed protection from persecution, war and violence. Asylum seekers benefit from the refugee status they gain upon entry into Canada along with the many welfare services to help their transition to …

From Classroom To Polling Station: A Cross-Canada Analysis Of High School Civics Curricula, Elizabeth Kozak

MA Major Research Papers

Public engagement, specifically in the form of voter turnout, has been a topic of discussion in political science since its inception. With recent declines in voter turnout, especially amongst young voters, some experts have begun to fear a generational shift towards political apathy; a shift that could lead to a heavily apolitical society as the generations who value politics are replaced by those who do not. With this context in mind, scholars have been trying to understand what drives turnout, why participation matters, and predict the attitude and behaviours of the Canadian electorate. Through these queries, it has been found …

Public Health Concerns Of Cannabis In Canada: Trends In Public Opinion Before And After Legalization, Cameron O'Dette

MA Major Research Papers

With the legalization and regulation of recreational cannabis in Canada coming into effect on October 17th, 2018, Canada became just the second country in the world to legalize the longstanding prohibited substance after first being outlawed in 1923. While public opinion throughout the country had favoured the adoption of drug-law reformation for some time, limited data existed on the health-related implications and public perceptions of cannabis use before the legislation was introduced. With little to no well-documented evidence available to base their own public policy decisions on, the federal government under newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal …

Local Government Response To Housing Unaffordability In Three Major Canadian Cities: A Study Of Vancouver, Calgary, And Toronto, Charlotte Kurs

MA Major Research Papers

In major cities globally, including those in Canada, many residents struggle to find affordable housing. Canadian municipalities have a growing role in responding to this issue. The objective of this paper is to investigate the municipal-level response to issues of housing affordability in three major Canadian cities: Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. Specifically, each city has committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing as one of its primary methods of responding to this issue. This paper provides an analysis and comparison of the goals set by each of the three case study municipalities and the real increases in affordable housing …

“Man Camps”: Temporary Housing Facilities Or Sites Of Permanent Devastation? The Cases Of British Columbia, Manitoba, And Nunavut, Jasmine Tordimah

MA Major Research Papers

Violence, harassment, and sexual abuse against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people is an issue that currently plagues our nation. There is a disproportionately high number of incidents occurring at Canadian resource extraction sites, both on “work camps,” colloquially referred to as “man camps,” and within nearby communities. While arguably the most salient consideration in the assessment process, it often does not receive the attention it requires. Consequently, this issue not only adds to the wider systemic imbalances that reproduce racist, sexist, and colonial patterns, but it further contributes to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) national …

Decolonizing ‘Femicide’ In International Frameworks: A Decolonial Feminist Approach, Hannah Diebold

MA Major Research Papers

Indigenous women are significantly overrepresented in homocide statistics in colonial states around the world. The term femicide is currently defined in international legal and political frameworks as ‘the killing of women and girls because of their gender.’ This definition, while seemingly straightforward, is limited by its racelessness and by the way colonial logic constructs gender. By deconstructing colonial logic, it becomes evident that the gender binary itself, is a colonial attempt to dehumanize the group which it terms ‘Indigenous women.’ My research evaluates solutions to decolonizing ‘femicide’ in international frameworks through an extensive literature review of decolonial feminist scholarship. The …

Pragmatic Conservative Nationalism: The Coalition Avenir Quebec, Joshua Nahmias

MA Major Research Papers

The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) is a provincial political party that was founded in 2011 and formed the province’s government for the first time in 2018. The purpose of this major research project is to explain the origins and policy preferences of the CAQ. It will argue that the CAQ reflects a “pragmatic conservative nationalist” ideology, and that this is as much a result of a conscious political orientation as it is a necessity in Quebec’s politically moderate electoral landscape. The party is the ideological heir and the continuation of the centre-right faction of the Parti Québécois (PQ), most notably …

The Kids Are Alt-Right: A Review Of Authoritarian Attitudes In Young Adults, R. P. Mcdonald

MA Major Research Papers

The aim of this literature review will attempt to identify and establish a series of research avenues from the existing publications related to the study of authoritarianism that could be used to prepare the reader and researchers to identify the causal pathways that have led to the resurgence of latent racist attitudes among young white men in recent years. The first section of this paper will explore the historical origins of the study of authoritarian personality types through the work of Adorno, while paying close attention to the development of authoritarian attitudes rooted in early childhood experiences. The second section …

Does Canada Meet International Standards On Employment Rights For Migrant Workers? An Analysis Of The Effects Of Labour Market Inequality, Ria Haque

MA Major Research Papers

The goal of this paper is to carefully assess the international standards of labour and the effects of the rise in labour market inequality specifically in Canada while also looking at what is going on in China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as case studies. By analyzing empirical and qualitative data, this paper ultimately concludes that the dominant explanation and interpretation of related literature in this subject depicts a broad sense of injustice to migrant workers who are only increasing internationally. These migrant workers face countless hardships while only pursuing jobs in foreign countries in the attempts of going …

The Sino-Lankan Relationship: Challenging Liberal Foundations Of Transitional Justice, Thurka Brabaharan

MA Major Research Papers

Sri Lanka continues to demonstrate the challenges of implementing legitimate transitional justice mechanisms in a post-conflict state ruled by its victors. While the island-nation of Sri Lanka has managed to sustain relative peace for over a decade, the government’s outstanding human rights record remains a concern for the country’s minority ethnic groups. While there is substantial evidence against the Sri Lankan Army to validate the human rights abuses and war crimes alleged by Tamil civilians, little has been done to hold these individuals accountable. Within the sphere of liberal international order, a victor’s peace, such as Sri Lanka’s, would likely …

The Effects Of Invasive Border Security Policies On Vulnerable Communities Today, Salena Halbouni

MA Major Research Papers

The following literature review is grounded in a case of a Syrian/Canadian man of the name Maher Arar who was wrongly convicted of having associations with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.5 The purpose of the case is to highlight flaws within counterterrorism policies and strategies. Despite the government’s attempts at protecting innocent civilians, it has also created many challenges for those in office with respect to protecting civil and human rights. As previously mentioned, in an attempt to overcome such challenges it is essential to implement safeguards within practices, and policies to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable.

Theories Of Foucault And Agamben: The Issues Of Borders And Sovereignty”, Melinda Ann Callahan

MA Major Research Papers

Michel Foucault and Giorgio Agamben have developed theoretical lenses for depicting how we should understand individuals in sovereign states, and the way in which these states interact with said individuals. Through an approach that assesses the framework of biology, race and ethnicity contribute to the notions of biopolitics and of ‘bare life,’ and exemplifies the constructs of how discrimination against the ‘other’ is embedded in western thought. These systematic processes are utilized through notions of biopower and the ‘state of exception’ as a means of maintaining hierarchical power structures. This paper will be assessing the role of the international in …