Browsing by Author "Huebert, Rob"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    A Tale of Two Responses: Assessing North American Responses to Far Right Extremism in a Post-9/11 World
    (2024-08-12) Rodriguez Guervos, Leyde; Huebert, Rob; Hiebert, Maureen; Terriff, Terry; Huebert, Rob
    Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in far right extremism across Western countries. This trend calls into question if and how governments are addressing this growing threat. Particular attention should be given to the responses of the American and Canadian governments, as North America currently hosts one of the largest far right extremist environments known to researchers globally. This thesis aims to contribute to this body of literature by examining how the United States and Canada have, respectively, responded to the increase in far right extremism. Two longitudinal studies are conducted examining each government’s responses to far right extremism from 2001 to 2022, starting at 9/11 and ending with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, respectively. Through this methodology, this thesis contends that both the United States and Canada have failed to adequately anticipate and respond to far right extremism due to the limitations imposed by their post-9/11 counterterrorism frameworks. Specifically, in the American case, both the 9/11 attacks and the events of January 6 were the results of failures of cooperation and imagination within the American counterterrorism apparatus. Domestic agencies have struggled to shift focus from Muslim extremist terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11 to the current most prominent terrorist threat: far right extremism. In contrast, in the Canadian case, post-9/11 counterterrorism strategies have not concentrated on independently addressing terrorism but have been predominantly reactive to American policies and events, resulting in significant American influence. While the Canadian system has managed to pivot toward addressing the threat of far right extremism by drawing from American events, its own institutional constraints have hindered its ability to effectively manage this threat, as exemplified by events such as the Freedom Convoy. The findings of this thesis provide insight into the patterns of counterterrorism responses over time and space specific to far right extremism.
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    China's Race towards the Arctic: Interests, Legitimacy, and Canadian Security Implications
    (2014-09-30) Wright, Timothy; Huebert, Rob
    This thesis examines the PRC’s Arctic ambitions and the security and defence implications for Canada in having a more involved China in the Far North. The primary security issue for Canada is economic, more specifically the protection of sovereignty, maintaining control over its resources, avoiding trade vulnerabilities, and even the preservation of jobs for Canadians. Beijing is anxious to participate in Arctic-affairs because it will help diversify its energy imports and thus increasing energy security by guarding against disruptions that may result in instability. Although Beijing has not produced an official Arctic strategy, Chinese scientists, academics, media, PLA-affiliates, and government elites have shed light on how China will approach its involvement in the Arctic. Currently, China’s approach to the Arctic can be characterized by a strategy of buying into Arctic-related projects and participating in diplomatic organizations such as the Arctic Council and the Arctic Circle Forum.
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    (De) Securitizing the Arctic? Functional actors and the shaping of Canadian Arctic security policy.
    (2022-12-12) Dean, Ryan; Huebert, Rob; Sayers, Anthony; Stewart, David; Chastko, Paul; Pincus, Rebecca
    This dissertation examines the development of modern Arctic security policy. It is a longitudinal investigation that begins in 1985 when Canada had an Arctic policy of “ad hocery” and ends in 2010 with the completion of an integrated policy. It investigates how the threat perceptions and policy prescriptions of various domestic actors were transmitted into government policy, moving some conceptualizations of security up or to the top of the agenda whilst moving others down or off of it. Second generation securitization theory is systematically applied to a series of exceptional case studies that best track the change over time in Arctic security policy. A mixed methodology of process tracing and discourse analysis interrogate the creation and changing of context, and how context was critical in setting the conditions for shaping policy. The dissertation finds that context matters in the securitization process, largely being created by securitization theory’s undertheorized functional actor. These actors provide policy options for those with political power to securitize into government policy. The prescriptions these actors offered were increasingly complex, stretching across the breadth and depth of security over time. This dissertation tells a story that comes full circle, beginning and ending with Canada’s effort to fold the military into its developing Arctic security policy.
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    Emergent Arctic, Divergent Approaches: The impact of federal organizations on Canada's pursuit of sovereignty over its Arctic waters
    (2012-09-13) Adair, Geoffrey; Huebert, Rob
    Climate change has reduced the width and breadth of sea ice in the waters of the Canadian Arctic, rendering the region more accessible to southern interests, particularly shipping, than at any time in its history. The realities of an emergent Arctic have rekindled old fears regarding the nature and extent of Canadian sovereignty over the waters of its Arctic Archipelago. These fears are related to the historically and legally contested nature of Canadian claims. While the Canadian government is asserting its sovereignty in the Arctic region, the federal organizations that are the instruments of sovereignty assertion are both impacting the manner in which Canada’s Arctic foreign policy is conducted and affecting Canada’s sovereignty claims. This paper investigates said organizational effects through interviews conducted with high ranking members, current and retired, of the Royal Canadian Navy, The Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
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    Five Eyes Through Different Eyes: A Gendered Examination of Intelligence Studies
    (2023-08-30) Kale, Anika; Keenan, Tom P.; Hiebert, Maureen; Huebert, Rob
    With the growing importance of diversifying perspectives which frame the security and intelligence field, this study set out to explore the relationship between gender representation and Master’s level intelligence curricula. The purpose was to identify what, if any, examples of gender representation exist using intelligence studies curricula. Using a qualitative explicit content analysis, this research used NVivo to analyze 20 Master’s level course syllabi from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was found that the concept of gender is not explicitly addressed in Master’s level syllabi across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. These findings demonstrate three clear takeaways. Firstly, it can be established that while gender itself might not be explicitly addressed, diversity may appear as a substitute theme to encompass the broader attempt to include varied perspectives in intelligence studies syllabi. Secondly, the absence of gender included shows that the structure of the majority of course syllabi, either intentionally or unintentionally, adhere to a predominantly traditional masculine approach. Finally, the findings demonstrate that the lack of inclusion of gender is a common phenomenon across intelligence studies syllabi.
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    From SOSUS to Satellites: Sovereignty, Security and Surveillance in the Canadian Arctic
    (2015-02-03) Carruthers, William; Huebert, Rob
    This thesis will present a detailed discussion of the relationship between sovereignty and security in the Canadian Arctic. More specifically, it will analyze the historical trends and current aims of surveillance projects in the region. This thesis will argue that the government of Stephen Harper prefers to answer sovereignty challenges with military security. It concludes that despite other branches of government such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Coast Guard being the traditional enforcers of sovereignty, they have had little input in establishing the surveillance capabilities in the Arctic. Further, with the military having control over all aspects of the surveillance infrastructure, this government is positioning the military above other departments with respect to Arctic capabilities. Ultimately, the Harper Government has used sovereignty to sell a military build-up in the Arctic to Canadians. Without the guise of sovereignty, such expenditures would be difficult for the public to accept.
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    Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The United States Navy and Mine Warfare in the 21st Century
    (2013-09-04) Choi, Timothy Hiu-Tung; Huebert, Rob
    This thesis analyzes the adequacy of the United States Navy (USN) when facing an enemy employing naval mines in a narrow waterway in the 21st century. Recent threats by the Islamic Republic of Iran to “close” the Strait of Hormuz and its oil traffic make the issue of mine warfare especially poignant, given the significant role mines have played in that region over the last thirty years. This thesis argues the USN’s technological efforts at improving its mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities since the end of the Cold War have been insufficient. An examination of MCM development efforts seeks to explain why such a crucial warfare capability remains lacking, and a historical comparative approach with the Dardanelles campaign in the First World War is used to illustrate the strategic significance of naval mines, as well as challenges the USN may face in attempting to reopen a mined Strait of Hormuz.
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    Rising from the Shadows: Understanding the Adaptation of U.S. Special Operations Forces 2003-2015
    (2022-01) Finn, Samuel; Terriff, Terry; Peric, Sabrina; Huebert, Rob; Terriff, Terry
    The Global War on Terror presented a significant challenge to the United States Military. Asymmetric actors employed irregular warfare tactics and strategies combined with technological advances to exploit weaknesses in the conventional military’s traditional combat process. Faced with an acute crisis, the U.S. Military’s special operations forces emerged as the most viable practitioner in these wars. However, this was not an easy task as special operations forces had traditionally been designed around short-term tactical operations or small wars. The Global War on Terror presented a long-term campaign that required special operations forces to make significant changes to succeed. This thesis seeks to answer the question: What factors influenced the adaptation of U.S. special operations forces during the Global War on Terror? This study follows the scholarly work in the field of military innovation studies to understand how external threats, leadership, and culture affected the adaptation of special operations forces from 2003-2015. Three case studies from the Global War on Terror will examine how the interplay of these variables led special operations forces to adapt their competencies to bridge the gap between the traditional American way of war and that of their adversaries. This will contribute to the growing field of military adaptation studies, which seeks to provide civilian and military policymakers with a better understanding of how militaries can change to meet their immediate challenges.
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    Scholarly electronic publishing in the humanities and social sciences in Canada : a study of the transformation of knowledge communication
    (The Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, 1999) Au Yeung, Tim; Archer, Keith; Huebert, Rob; McGillivray, Murray; Clarke, Helen; Girouard, Jacqueline; Beaudoin, Martin; Onn, Shirley; Bell, Jackie; Kerr, James
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    Security Challenges of States Building Crisis in West Africa since 1955
    (2014-01-29) Shamvu, Mulago Jean-Pierre; Huebert, Rob
    West African states have been struggling to build their nation-states since the independences that started in 1957. The same ills that struck these states since the beginning seem to have stuck with them despite several attempts at healing them. Instead of modern and prosperous states, people are witnessing the chronic weakness of their states. This research seeks to contribute to the understanding of states’ weakness in West Africa and to the analysis of possible solutions to address the problem. The opening chapter sets the stage of the research by introducing the phenomenon of states’ weakness in West Africa. The next chapter looks at the literature that deals with states power and weakness. The frames of analysis used to evaluate these states’ strength and weaknesses are also introduced in this chapter. These are the critical mass, political skills, economic wealth, military and security assets. These resources offer a view of a state’s potential. Chapter three delves on some of the causes of West African states’ weakness. These states are weak because of the structures and internal socio-political dynamics within them. Some other causes of their weakness come from the global powers’ influences. The last section of the chapter offers an overview of how the Cold War (1945-1989) influenced events in the sub region. The political environment of overlay by global powers shapes considerably the states under study. Security Reform and Governance is posited as the solution to the lack of capacity of West African states. Chapter four of this work delves on this subject. The security sector covers most state’s institutions that need to be reformed in West Africa. The closing chapter demonstrates how the Economic Community of West African States is a nascent security community. Its security architecture endorses the Security Sector Governance mechanism and therefore stands a better chance of strengthening member states if provided with the needed resources.
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    Territorial Disputes in the Arctic: Prospects for Conflict and Cooperation
    (2017) Halt, Christian; Huebert, Rob; Terriff, Terry; Yackel, John
    This thesis examines the territorial disputes between Arctic states and investigates why the region has not seen conflict resulting from the disputes and whether this state of affairs will persist. The economic, strategic and symbolic value of the disputed territory is considered for all parties involved, as is the role this value has in fostering cooperative or conflictual relations. Through examination of the Arctic’s disputed territory, it is concluded that the Arctic’s harsh environment has played an important role in limiting the value of the disputed territory and therefore allowing Arctic states to avoid both serious management efforts and conflictual relations. However, the value of the disputed territory is growing, as is the need for states to manage activity in these areas. Should Arctic states continue to leave disputes unresolved, future attempts at resolution will involve more contentious negotiations, along with a greater potential for inter-state incidents and clashes.