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About Defence Studies |
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 | | Col John McKenna at the RCMI Research Conference |
Defence Studies is a vital part of the Institute's activities, and contributes to the satisfaction of a significant need for neutral and unbiased public information on matters relating to national defence, security, and sovereignty of Canada, as well as Canada's role in international security and peacekeeping arrangements, and the relevance of military art and science thereto. The Institute's Defence Studies programmes, involving original research and study of historic and contemporary defence issues, are a key component of our ongoing effort to become the leading Toronto-based thinktank in military and strategic affairs. These activities take place under the auspices of the Defence Studies Committee, a committee of active member volunteers interested in Institute's contribution to military and strategic affairs, and is under the direction of Col (Ret'd) Chris Corrigan Executive Director and Chair of Defence Studies. The so-called Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), the growing violence of terrorism and the horrendous possibility of attacks with weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the limitless possibilities of 'asymmetric warfare' present new threats to the Canadian populace, and new challenges to the Canadian Forces. Equally, the new problems of 'Homeland Defence,' our evolving strategic relationship with the United States, as well as the ability of our forces to serve abroad are not fully understood by the public or the media. Thus, our research agenda and educational mandate is more critical than ever. |
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Our publications are designed to be useful public resources. Our A Wake-Up Call for Canada: The Need for a New Military was a leadership development in the public presentation of defense issues. The press conference which accompanied its launch received national attention. It remains one of the most influential papers published in the last decade on the state of Canada's military forces. |
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The Defence Studies Committee has an increasingly robust programme of activities. These activities include sponsoring or hosting various Roundtables and Conferences on contemporary strategic and military issues, as well as an expanding publications programme, which includes not only SITREP, our principal bi-monthly defence publication, but also The General Sir William Otter Papers, The Heritage Papers, and The Selected Papers series, Conference Proceedings, and occasional reports on topics of interest. We hope to expand our publications programme in the future. |
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As the result of our work, members of our Defence Studies Committee are regularly invited to participate in Department of National Defence activities. This includes providing input into ongoing defence reviews and discussion roundtables. Much of this work led to the development of new strategy guidelines published under the title “Strategy 2025.” In addition, RCMI members are often priviledged to get ‘updates’ from senior Canadian and foreign military leaders, as well as ‘background briefings’ on foreign affairs relating to Canada’s place in the world. |
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As part of the Defence Studies Outreach Programme, the Institute participates in shared research activities with other institutions active in the areas of the Institute's research, such as in the fields of strategy, foreign affairs and the structure and role of Canada’s armed forces. This has led to joint activities with such organizations as the Canadian Forces College, Canada25, the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies (CISS) and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA). |
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The Institute also makes its facilities available to other organizations whose purposes or activities are broadly consistent with those of the Institute for the conduct of meetings and lectures, as well as to certain charitable organizations whose purposes, though not necessarily congruent with those of the Institute, are felt to be of such public benefit that the Institute is willing to assist them indirectly through making its facilities available to them for meetings. |
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All content © 2006. The Royal Canadian Military Institute.
426 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1S9. Tel: 416-597-0286. Fax: 416-597-6919. |
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