Beyond the Headlines

Canada’s Democratic Deficit

Low voter turnout has plagued Canada’s elections for decades, and people are increasingly apathetic towards the democratic process. In this episode we host a discussion to ask whether Canada has a democratic deficit. Are democratic institutions accurately representing the “will of the people” and are they providing goods & services that people value and want? This goes beyond the trend of voter turnout, to consider a wide range of democratic institutions, such as: Party financing, lobbying, the welfare state, the electoral system, and much more!

A Possible Paradigm Shift? The War in Ukraine and Green Energy Transition

The war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the way in which we think of numerous issues in public life and international relations, from refugees to food security to nuclear proliferation. However, one of the topics that has received considerable attention in the last year has been the relationship between fossil fuels, clean energy, and global security. Since the war began, the world has seen skyrocketing energy prices, introspection on the sources of fossil fuel energy, and anxieties over the future of energy stability. This has led to scholars, politicians, and experts arguing for a stronger link between the pursuit of clean energy transition and global security. This episode will aim to address the bigger questions of this debate and their implications for Canada, and the world.
Through a conversation with Mark Winfield from York University’s Faculty of Environment and Urban Change, the first segment of the episode will discuss the effects of the war in Ukraine on the discourse surrounding energy transition and Canada’s role as a global energy exporter
In the second segment, we have a discussion with Scott McKnight, from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This segment puts emphasis on the global trends in Green Energy Transition in the wake of the conflict, with particular emphasis on how these issues affect China and the Global South.
Our final guest is Hlib Mikhno, a junior professional in the fields of external relations and energy transition, who recently represented Ukraine as the European Climate Pact Ambassador during high-level youth policy dialogues with the Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal. Hlib’s segment explores Ukraine's energy transition through the prism of Russia's invasion, with a focus on the constant shelling of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, plans for EU integration, and post-war reconstruction.
Guests:
Mark Winfield, Professor at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University.
Scott McKnight, Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
Hlib Mikhno, European Climate Pact Ambassador for Ukraine in various EU institutions 
Producers:
Marie Ascencio - Senior Producer
Antoine Fougère-Ramsamooj - Junior Producer

Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict

*Trigger Warning: today’s episode includes content dealing with upsetting, sensitive and potentially triggering themes including sexual violence, torture, and death. 
Sexual Violence in armed conflict is not a new phenomena and this epidemic of sexual violence as “weapon of war” has existed for as long as there has been conflict. Sexual violence during armed conflict as a crime against humanity has been formally recognized through the establishment of the International Criminal Court as well as in international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women adopted by United Nations General Assembly in 1970. However, as stated in the 2022 Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Report of the UN Secretary-General and shown in the ongoing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, women and children continue to suffer from sexual violence and the Covid-19 pandemic and heightened natural disasters and conflict have elevated risks of sexual exploitation. In recognition of the upcoming International Women’s Day, this episode aims to break the silence around sexual violence which is often a peripheral concern in any armed conflict. 
In the first segment, Dr. Noëlle Quénivet will talk about the international legal and policy framework regarding sexual violence in armed conflict including its limitations and how the existing system can be improved to appropriately and effectively address conflict-related sexual violence. 
The second segment of the episode focuses on the situation in the Ukraine War where, Professor Kim Thuy Seelinger provides some insight into the current efforts to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence in the invasion of Ukraine. 
Producers:
Yunji Hwang - Junior Producer
Anukriti Randev - Junior Producer
Raagini Singh Panwar - Junior Producer
 
Further Reading:
Noelle Quénivet (first speaker) and Melanie O’Brien. (June 8, 2022). Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Women in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
Weill, Sharon, Kim Thuy Seelinger, and Kerstin Bree Carlson (eds), The President on Trial: Prosecuting Hissène Habré (Oxford, 2020; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 June 2020),
United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG). (29 March 2022). Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Report

Trailer - Beyond the Headlines

Beyond the Headlines is a weekly one-hour current affairs radio show & podcast airing on Mondays at 11AM on CIUT 89.5. We are Canada’s premier student-led venue for informed & non-partisan policy discourse.
Through discussions with leading Canadian and global experts, we aim to capture the essence of important public policy and global affairs issues. By taking a “deep dive” into a new subject each week, our objective is to take listeners beyond the immediacy of our daily news. We aspire to create content that is accessible to a wider audience, not simply those who have an academic background in policy.
Beyond the Headlines is produced by Master's Students at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. 

A Grim Anniversary: One Year of War in Ukraine - Part 2

The war in Ukraine has reached its one year anniversary, a grim milestone few people in February of 2022 thought would be possible. Over the last year, the world has remained stunned, shocked, and enthralled by the conflict and its developments. These include the inspiring resilience of the Ukrainian people, the surprising shortfalls of the Russian military, and the rallying of the international community in support of Ukraine. However, with a year come and gone, it is easy to forget the implications that the war continues to have on our lives. As such, this episode will serve as a retrospective of the war and a reminder of the brutal costs that Ukraine, Russia, and the world are still paying.
 
Through a conversation with Janice Stein of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the first segment of the episode serves as a retrospective of the war. How it began, its most important moments, and what might happen next. 
 
In the second segment, we have a discussion with Dani Nedal, also from the Munk School. This segment puts emphasis on the human cost of the war, an essential consideration to realize the true consequences of this conflict. A note, while no graphic descriptions are present, this episode will talk about the human violence and suffering that has happened due to this war. Please take care while listening. 
 
Guests:
 
Professor Janice Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science and the Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. Her current research focuses on technology and public policy in the context of great power competition. Last year, she co-chaired the National Advisory Committee on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy for the Minister of Global Affairs.
 
Professor Dani Nedal is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto at the Department of Political Science and the Munk School. His work focuses on topics related to global security and international order. His research focuses on topics of global security and international order. He has held fellowships at MIT’s Security Studies Program, Yale University’s International Security Studies program and the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Conflict.
 
Producers:
 
Antoine Fougère-Ramsamooj & Mina Zahine

A Grim Anniversary: One Year of War in Ukraine - Part 1

The war in Ukraine has reached its one year anniversary, a grim milestone few people in February of 2022 thought would be possible. Over the last year, the world has remained stunned, shocked, and enthralled by the conflict and its developments. These include the inspiring resilience of the Ukrainian people, the surprising shortfalls of the Russian military, and the rallying of the international community in support of Ukraine. However, with a year come and gone, it is easy to forget the implications that the war continues to have on our lives. As such, this episode will serve as a retrospective of the war and a reminder of the brutal costs that Ukraine, Russia, and the world are still paying.
 
Through a conversation with Janice Stein of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the first segment of the episode serves as a retrospective of the war. How it began, its most important moments, and what might happen next. 
 
In the second segment, we have a discussion with Dani Nedal, also from the Munk School. This segment puts emphasis on the human cost of the war, an essential consideration to realize the true consequences of this conflict. A note, while no graphic descriptions are present, this episode will talk about the human violence and suffering that has happened due to this war. Please take care while listening. 
 
Guests:
 
Professor Janice Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science and the Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. Her current research focuses on technology and public policy in the context of great power competition. Last year, she co-chaired the National Advisory Committee on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy for the Minister of Global Affairs.
 
Professor Dani Nedal is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto at the Department of Political Science and the Munk School. His work focuses on topics related to global security and international order. His research focuses on topics of global security and international order. He has held fellowships at MIT’s Security Studies Program, Yale University’s International Security Studies program and the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Conflict.
 
Producers:
 
Antoine Fougère-Ramsamooj & Mina Zahine

Public Trust in Digital Healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly shaken healthcare systems around the world, many of which have already been struggling since pre-pandemic times. This is no different in Canada. The World Health Organization argues that digital healthcare has the potential to improve medical diagnoses, data-based treatment decisions, digital therapeutics, clinical trials, among other benefits. Notwithstanding these promises, there are concerns surrounding privacy, accessibility, and scalability. Fabian talks to Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya from the Women’s College Hospital about digital healthcare trends, implementation challenges, as well as policy recommendations. Yashree then talks to Dr. Sacha Bhatia about the future of digital healthcare and public trust in the existing system. 
 
Guest:
Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya - Women’s College HospitalDr. Sacha Bhatia - Ontario Health
 
Producers:
Anukriti Randev - Junior Producer
Yashree Sharma - Junior Producer
Fabian Siau - Junior Producer
 
Suggested Readings:
World Health Organization. Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025. (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/gs4dhdaa2a9f352b0445bafbc79ca799dce4d.pdf)
Policy Options. Enabling digital health care solutions in Canada. (https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2019/enabling-digital-health-care-solutions-canada/ )

The Politics of Semiconductors in Canada and Abroad - Part 2

The semiconductor industry has become a lightning rod for geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. Competition in the technological frontier has become an arena where both the US and China are competing for dominance. In the latter half of 2022, the Biden administration signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in the US, and enacted sweeping export controls against China. This week's episode takes a deep dive into how geopolitical tensions between the US and China are impacting the semiconductor industry and their broader ramifications for the global economy. 
Through a conversation with Antonia Hmaidi of the Mercator Institute for China Studies, the first segment of the episode breaks down the impacts of the chip war on economies of US and China, and takes a look at how the US is changing the way export controls are being used. 
In the second segment, we have a conversation with Benjamin Bergen from the Council of Canadian Innovators. This segment provides a Canadian perspective on the chip war, and whether Canada should pursue its own long-term goal of domestic semiconductor production.
Guests:
Antonia Hmaidi is an Analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies located in Germany. She works on China’s pursuit of tech self-reliance (especially in areas like semiconductors and operating systems), its internet infrastructure, and disinformation and hacking campaigns. Hmaidi also develops modelling and big data analysis tools. She gained experience as a project manager at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, worked at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), as a journalist in Asia and at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). Antonia holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Politics and Economics from Ruhr University Bochum and Renmin University of China, and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institutes of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva and New Delhi.
Benjamin Bergen is the President of the Council of Canadian Innovators, a national, non-partisan business council for the 21st century economy, led by over 150 CEOs of Canada’s fastest growing homegrown technology scale-ups. CCI is focused on optimizing the growth of Canada’s innovation-based sector, and Benjamin leads the execution of its ambitious economic development agenda. CCI is working with leading Canadian companies which feed in to the global semiconductor supply chain, and calling on Canada to develop a national semiconductor strategy.
Producers:
Raagini Singh Panwar - Junior Producer
Vicky Li - Junior Producer

The Politics of Semiconductors in Canada and Abroad - Part 1

The semiconductor industry has become a lightning rod for geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. Competition in the technological frontier has become an arena where both the US and China are competing for dominance. In the latter half of 2022, the Biden administration signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in the US, and enacted sweeping export controls against China. This week's episode takes a deep dive into how geopolitical tensions between the US and China are impacting the semiconductor industry and their broader ramifications for the global economy. 
Through a conversation with Antonia Hmaidi of the Mercator Institute for China Studies, the first segment of the episode breaks down the impacts of the chip war on economies of US and China, and takes a look at how the US is changing the way export controls are being used. 
In the second segment, we have a conversation with Benjamin Bergen from the Council of Canadian Innovators. This segment provides a Canadian perspective on the chip war, and whether Canada should pursue its own long-term goal of domestic semiconductor production.
Guests:
Antonia Hmaidi is an Analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies located in Germany. She works on China’s pursuit of tech self-reliance (especially in areas like semiconductors and operating systems), its internet infrastructure, and disinformation and hacking campaigns. Hmaidi also develops modelling and big data analysis tools. She gained experience as a project manager at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, worked at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), as a journalist in Asia and at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). Antonia holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Politics and Economics from Ruhr University Bochum and Renmin University of China, and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institutes of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva and New Delhi.
Benjamin Bergen is the President of the Council of Canadian Innovators, a national, non-partisan business council for the 21st century economy, led by over 150 CEOs of Canada’s fastest growing homegrown technology scale-ups. CCI is focused on optimizing the growth of Canada’s innovation-based sector, and Benjamin leads the execution of its ambitious economic development agenda. CCI is working with leading Canadian companies which feed in to the global semiconductor supply chain, and calling on Canada to develop a national semiconductor strategy.
Producers:
Raagini Singh Panwar - Junior Producer
Vicky Li - Junior Producer

Sustainability: Resilience in Toronto - Part 2

Contributions are being made to tackle climate change on a scale. From government commitments, to corporate CEOs releasing their yearly carbon reduction targets. Though with every new promise for a better and brighter future, our present day news reports parts of the world working desperately to suppress major climate shocks. Today, we’re honing in on the topic of climate action and how Toronto can remain a resilient city in the future to come. Former Chief Resilience Officer Elliot Cappell will bring us up to speed on Toronto’s resilience strategy, while our second guest professor John Robinson will go beyond resilience to address the multifaceted components that are integral to Toronto's future as a sustainable city.
 
Guests : 
Elliott Cappel - PwC CanadaJohn Robinson - University of Toronto
 
Producers: 
Nikoo Tajdolat - Junior Producer
Keyi Liu - Junior Producer