Capstone in Canadian Security Policy

Course Description

This capstone course introduces students to researching and writing on behalf of Canada’s federal and provincial public services in the area of national security policy. Over the semester, the class, grouped into smaller research clusters, will work with four pre-selected private sector or government organizations.

Past government partners have included:

  • Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) on exploring how emerging technologies (blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized autonomous organizations) and ransomware attacks challenge existing global anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing regimes, strategies, and efforts.  

  • Global Affairs Canada on assessing the challenges governments face and the opportunities they may have in governing the development and use of Artificial Intelligence.

  • Ontario’s Office of the Provincial Security Advisor in mapping out the risks, costs, and consequences of three major disruption events targeting the Greater Toronto Area (i.e. cyber and terrorism attacks).

  • Bank of Canada on producing a 2030 strategic and security outlook for central banks that touches on everything from emerging disruptive technologies to political and economic instability.  

  • Public Safety Canada on unpacking the nexus between video gaming and streaming services and militant activity, recruitment, and violence; investigating the cybersecurity threats, challenges, and concerns targeting Canada’s health sector; exploring contemporary “research security,” academic integrity, and espionage as it relates to Canadian national interests, foreign interference, and counter proliferation.

Past private sector partners have included:

  • A national financial services firm in assessing the challenge of “insider threats,” identifying current and future motivating and enabling factors, and examining mitigating strategies and counter measures.

  • An aerospace firm on mapping out the nexus between digital technologies, augmented/virtual reality, military training and simulation, and Canadian defence policy.

Prerequisite: MA standing in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs or permission of the School.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to: 

  1. Develop an informed perspective and understanding of Canadian national security policy research and writing.

  2. Consider how national security policy is framed, established, and communicated in Canada.

  3. Develop research and analytical capabilities on four diverse issues pertaining to contemporary Canadian security.

  4. Develop research, writing, and presentation skills in public policy analysis.

Course Structure & Class Format

This is an academic course at the graduate level. Students should expect to participate in informal and formal seminar-style discussions, lead group and individual presentations, and actively participate in professor-guided training exercises. A typical class will incorporate different learning strategies:

  • Weekly Update – Each class will begin (time permitting) with an informal discussion of national and international developments relating to the four research clusters that took place over the previous week. The Weekly Update will give students an opportunity to share news stories with the class. Expect to contribute regularly.

  • Lecture – Prof Wilner will begin some classes with a short introductory lecture that will provide a framework for understanding the issue/topic under discussion, and help lead subsequent training exercises.

  • Guest lectures – Representatives of all four clients will visit class at the beginning of the course, in weeks one and two. Representatives will provide us with the details of the project: What is the big picture? Where is the research question/puzzle coming from? Why is the topic important? How might the project be carried out? What resources might students collect and use? These presentations will be followed by a Q/A with the class. Come ready to ask questions. We will also be joined by a representative of Carleton library services who will assist us in identifying an collecting sources and material for each project.

  • Student Presentations – Research groups will present every few weeks on the progression of their projects. These presentations will give the groups an opportunity to share their findings, to date, and to receive constructive criticism from the class.

  • Studio Workshop – Given the intense collaboration needed to succeed in this class, students will be provided with time during several classes to meet and discuss issues as a group during class hours. Professor Wilner will provide directed assistance where needed during these workshops. Come prepared with questions and queries for Prof Wilner, and for your group members.

Project Deliverables

Each research team will have a unique set of deliverables to produce over the semester depending on the needs of the partner organization. Generally, however, research teams will produce:

  • A major, 30 page, single-spaced, policy research paper that includes recommendations.

  • A 2 to 3 page, single-spaced, high-level summary report of the project.

  • Briefing deck of overall findings and results.

  • Final Presentation (30 minutes) with project partners.

  • Several Minor Presentations (20-30 minutes each) during the semester.