The Centre for Security, Intelligence and Defence Studies
The Centre’s mandate is to enhance collaboration between NPSIA, the public and private sectors, civil society groups, the media, and the general public in order to foster informed debate and dialogue about Canadian security, intelligence, and defence.
Our Network of Experts
We are proud to be Canada’s Top graduate program in international affairs. We are globally recognized for excellence in teaching, research, policy engagement, and public commentary.
For 60 years, we have trained our students to become leaders in the field of international affairs.
The Canadian Defence and Security Network is an independent, non-partisan research group of partners from government, academia and civil society. The network is funded by a SSHRC Partnership Grant and a MINDS Collaborative Network Grant and located in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.
Public Outreach
Border Blues: A Virtual Panel on the Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Border Closure
Didn’t make it to our last event? You can now watch it here!
Alan Barns. Intelligence and National Security: “To spy, or not to spy: Canadian government consideration of a foreign intelligence agency, 1945–2007”
Unlike most of its key allies, the Canadian government has not created a foreign intelligence agency to spy abroad using human sources. Newly-available archival records for the first time furnish insights into the deliberations of Canadian officials and ministers on this question. Since the early 1950s, several proposals for a foreign intelligence agency have been prepared by Canadian officials, but in all cases they failed to receive government approval. By providing an understanding of how this issue has been viewed from inside government over the past eight decades, these records will inform the ongoing public debate over the pros and cons of creating a Canadian foreign intelligence agency.
CSIDS Mandate
Research
Supporting and encouraging interdisciplinary research at Carleton in salient issues in security, intelligence and defence
Mentoring
Supporting the graduate education and training of students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.
Hosting
Hosting visiting scholars and research fellows pursuing research
Organizing
Organizing and hosting conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, and guest lectures on topics relating to security, intelligence, and defence