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Join the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy

About

The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) is a non-profit and non-partisan international affairs think tank active in the United States and Canada dedicated to promoting dialogue, diplomacy, prudent realism, and military restraint—principles which we believe are the four cornerstones of sustainable peace in an increasingly complex and dynamic international system. Through our expert panel discussions, publications and analysis we hope to positively contribute to the foreign policy discussion in the North Atlantic.

Young Fellowship Program

The IPD Young Fellowship is a one-year program aimed at developing the next generation of leaders in Canadian foreign policy. This non-resident program provides recent graduates and young professionals (under 35) with hands-on experience, training, networking opportunities, and a platform to bring new perspectives and innovative solutions to the current challenges Canada faces globally.

The ideal candidate for this program will possess a strong passion and motivation for Canadian foreign, defence, and international trade policies, as well as a solid academic background and relevant professional experience.

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to work with a team of researchers and policy experts, and to connect with Canadian and international policy practitioners, decision-makers, and scholars on issues critical to Canada’s national interests.

  • The fellowship is designed to be flexible, allowing it to be pursued alongside employment or academic study.
  • Attend monthly virtual meetings lasting 60-90 minutes each.
  • Author policy analysis, commentaries, or policy papers for IPD publications, providing at least 2 pieces during the term of the fellowship.
  • Organize and/or participate in IPD seminars and public talks. Planning at least one roundtable discussion on your area of expertise for IPD during the term of the fellowship.
  • Represent IPD at conferences and public seminars, attend meetings, and participate in briefing sessions with stakeholders when requested.
  • Assist in program and research design relevant to your areas of expertise.
  • Provide ad hoc support to IPD as needed, such as connecting IPD with policy actors and/or scholars, improving research methods, and supporting outreach efforts.
  • Under 35 years old at the start of the fellowship.
  • Hold a graduate level degree (PhD or Masters) in international relations, political science or a related program. Current graduate level students can apply as well but they need to demonstrate clearly in their application that they have the required research skills and/or relevant professional experience.
  • Have a demonstrated interest — through coursework, professional or volunteer experience — in Canadian foreign, defence or international trade policies. In particular we are interested in candidates who have research and professional experience related to Canada’s policies towards one or more of the following: the United States, the Indo-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, Canada’s alliance commitments to NATO, continental defence, NORAD and the Arctic.
  • Have published foreign policy analysis in the form of opinion articles, policy briefs or academic journal articles.
  • Network and connect with key players and stakeholders in the Canadian foreign policy community.
  • Interact and network with peers who share similar interests.
  • Access IPD’s private discussions hosted under Chatham House rule.
  • Enhance your research and communication skills and broaden your knowledge of Canadian foreign, defense, and trade policies.
  • Publish analysis pieces on Canadian foreign policy.
  • Although Young Fellows do not receive a salary from IPD, they will receive an honorarium and/or stipend for each publication or contribution to other research activities.
  • Have the chance to submit proposals for paid contracts centered on specific priorities in IPD programming.
  • Complimentary access to IPD’s two flagship annual conferences in Ottawa, the Middle East Strategy Forum and the East Asia Strategy Forum.

How to Apply

Submit your resume, cover letter, and the publications most relevant to IPD's work to info@peacediplomacy.org

In your cover letter, clearly articulate your objectives for the fellowship and describe the research projects or topics you plan to pursue as a Young Fellow at IPD.

Deadline: Rolling Basis

Apply Now

Internships

Research & Communications Assistant (Part-Time)

  • Location: Canada (Remote)
  • Duration: 4 months with possible extension
This paid internship position will hold a range of responsibilities including research support within IPD’s East Asia program, planning for the Institute’s 2023 East Asia Strategy Forum, and communications through social media content and other collateral materials.
  • Monitor daily and weekly foreign policy news cycle in domestic and international press, tracking issues of relevance to ongoing program priorities with a focus on East Asia;
  • Conduct open-source and original research on foreign policy developments in Canada and the United States, geopolitics in East Asia, and strategic debates in international affairs;
  • Assist in drafting, proofreading, copy editing, and publishing reports, policy briefs, white papers, and other analysis from IPD’s publication pipeline;
  • Draft compelling public relations prose including but not limited to press releases, website copy, newsletter content, blogs, and social media collateral;
  • Perform general administrative work for IPD as required.
  • Must have a relevant educational background in political science, public policy, international relations, journalism, or related concentrations — graduate studies preferred;
  • Excellent written communication skills in English and at least one East Asian language are required — proficiency in French and Chinese would be an asset;
  • Keen interest in the restraint-oriented mission of IPD with a familiarity with realist thought, peace studies, and/or diplomacy;
  • Strong research skills and responsive attention to media monitoring;
  • High level of integrity and track record in handling confidential matters;
  • Demonstrable ability to pay strong attention to detail and can ensure accuracy of documents and communications;
  • Must work well with others and independently;
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, Google Suite, and other data management solutions (e.g. Airtable);
  • Proficiency with digital content creation and publishing software (e.g. Canva, Photoshop, InDesign) would be an asset;
  • Previous experience conducting communications and/or social media campaigns would be an asset.

How to Apply

Submit your resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to info@peacediplomacy.org

Due to the high volume of expected applicants, follow-up messages will not be responded to and only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Deadline: March 10, 2023

Apply Now
Panel 4: Pathways to Manage Non-Proliferation in the Middle East (4:30 PM - 5:45 PM ET)

The Western powers have failed to effectively manage the increasing threat of proliferation in the Middle East. While the international community is concerned with Iran’s nuclear program, Saudi Arabia has moved forward with developing its own nuclear program, and independent studies show that Israel has longed possessed dozens of nuclear warheads. The former is a member of the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), while the latter has refused to sign the international agreement. 

On Middle East policy, the Biden campaign had staunchly criticized the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal and it has begun re-engaging Iran on the nuclear dossier since assuming office in January 2021. However, serious obstacles remain for responsible actors in expanding non-proliferation efforts toward a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. 

This panel will discuss how Western powers and multilateral institutions, such as the IAEA, can play a more effective role in managing non-proliferation efforts in the Middle East.  

Panelists:

– Peggy Mason: Canada’s former Ambassador to the UN for Disarmament

– Mark Fitzpatrick: Associate Fellow & Former Executive Director, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

– Ali Vaez: Iran Project Director, International Crisis Group

– Negar Mortazavi: Journalist and Political Analyst, Host of Iran Podcast

– David Albright: Founder and President of the Institute for Science and International Security

 

Closing (5:45 PM – 6:00 PM ET)

Panel 3: Trade and Business Diplomacy in the Middle East (3:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET)

What is the current economic landscape in the Middle East? While global foreign direct investment is expected to fall drastically in the post-COVID era, the World Bank reported a 5% contraction in the economic output of the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries in 2020 due to the pandemic. While oil prices are expected to rebound with normalization in demand, political instability, regional and geopolitical tensions, domestic corruption, and a volatile regulatory and legal environment all threaten economic recovery in the Middle East. What is the prospect for economic growth and development in the region post-pandemic, and how could MENA nations promote sustainable growth and regional trade moving forward?

At the same time, Middle Eastern diaspora communities have become financially successful and can help promote trade between North America and the region. In this respect, the diaspora can become vital intermediaries for advancing U.S. and Canada’s business interests abroad. Promoting business diplomacy can both benefit the MENA region and be an effective and positive way to advance engagement and achieve foreign policy goals of the North Atlantic.

This panel will investigate the trade and investment opportunities in the Middle East, discuss how facilitating economic engagement with the region can benefit Canadian and American national interests, and explore relevant policy prescriptions.

Panelists:

– Hon. Sergio Marchi: Canada’s Former Minister of International Trade

– Scott Jolliffe: Chairperson, Canada Arab Business Council

– Esfandyar Batmanghelidj: Founder and Publisher of Bourse & Bazaar

– Nizar Ghanem: Director of Research and Co-founder at Triangle

– Nicki Siamaki: Researcher at Control Risks

Panel 2: Arms Race and Terrorism in the Middle East (12:00 PM - 1:15 PM ET)

The Middle East continues to grapple with violence and instability, particularly in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Fueled by government incompetence and foreign interventions, terrorist insurgencies have imposed severe humanitarian and economic costs on the region. Meanwhile, regional actors have engaged in an unprecedented pursuit of arms accumulation. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have imported billions of both Western and Russian-made weapons and funded militant groups across the region, intending to contain their regional adversaries, particularly Iran. Tehran has also provided sophisticated weaponry to various militia groups across the region to strengthen its geopolitical position against Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel. 

On the other hand, with international terrorist networks and intense regional rivalry in the Middle East, it is impractical to discuss peace and security without addressing terrorism and the arms race in the region. This panel will primarily discuss the implications of the ongoing arms race in the region and the role of Western powers and multilateral organizations in facilitating trust-building security arrangements among regional stakeholders to limit the proliferation of arms across the Middle East.

 

Panelists:

Luciano Zaccara: Assistant Professor, Qatar University

Dania Thafer: Executive Director, Gulf International Forum

Kayhan Barzegar: Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Science and Research Branch of Azad University

Barbara Slavin: Director of Iran Initiative, Atlantic Council

Sanam Shantyaei: Senior Journalist at France24 & host of Middle East Matters

Panel 1: Future of Diplomacy and Engagement in the Middle East (10:30 AM-11:45 AM ET)

The emerging regional order in West Asia will have wide-ranging implications for global security. The Biden administration has begun re-engaging Iran on the nuclear dossier, an initiative staunchly opposed by Israel, while also taking a harder line on Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen. Meanwhile, key regional actors, including Qatar, Iraq, and Oman, have engaged in backchannel efforts to bring Iran and Saudi Arabia to the negotiating table. From a broader geopolitical perspective, with the need to secure its energy imports, China is also expected to increase its footprint in the region and influence the mentioned challenges. 

In this evolving landscape, Western powers will be compelled to redefine their strategic priorities and adjust their policies with the new realities in the region. In this panel, we will discuss how the West, including the United States and its allies, can utilize multilateral diplomacy with its adversaries to prevent military escalation in the region. Most importantly, the panel will discuss if a multilateral security dialogue in the Persian Gulf region, proposed by some regional actors, can help reduce tensions among regional foes and produce sustainable peace and development for the region. 

Panelists:

– Abdullah Baabood: Academic Researcher and Former Director of the Centre for Gulf Studies, Qatar University

– Trita Parsi: Executive Vice-President, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

– Ebtesam Al-Ketbi: President, Emirates Policy Centre​

– Jon Allen: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Israel

– Elizabeth Hagedorn: Washington correspondent for Al-Monitor

Panel 4: Humanitarian Diplomacy: An Underused Foreign Policy Tool in the Middle East (4:30 PM - 5:30 PM ET)

Military interventions, political and economic instabilities, and civil unrest in the Middle East have led to a global refugee crisis with an increasing wave of refugees and asylum seekers to Europe and Canada. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has, in myriad ways, exacerbated and contributed to the ongoing security threats and destabilization of the region.

While these challenges pose serious risks to Canadian security, Ottawa will also have the opportunity to limit such risks and prevent a spillover effect vis-à-vis effective humanitarian initiatives in the region. In this panel, we will primarily investigate Canada’s Middle East Strategy’s degree of success in providing humanitarian aid to the region. Secondly, the panel will discuss what programs and initiatives Canada can introduce to further build on the renewed strategy. and more specifically, how Canada can utilize its policy instruments to more effectively deal with the increasing influx of refugees from the Middle East. 

 

Panelists:

Erica Di Ruggiero: Director of Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto

Reyhana Patel: Head of Communications & Government Relations, Islamic Relief Canada

Amir Barmaki: Former Head of UN OCHA in Iran

Catherine Gribbin: Senior Legal Advisor for International and Humanitarian Law, Canadian Red Cross

Panel 3: A Review of Canada’s Middle East Engagement and Defense Strategy (3:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET)

In 2016, Canada launched an ambitious five-year “Middle East Engagement Strategy” (2016-2021), committing to investing CA$3.5 billion over five years to help establish the necessary conditions for security and stability, alleviate human suffering and enable stabilization programs in the region. In the latest development, during the meeting of the Global Coalition against ISIS, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced more than $43.6 million in Peace and Stabilization Operations Program funding for 11 projects in Syria and Iraq.

With Canada’s Middle East Engagement Strategy expiring this year, it is time to examine and evaluate this massive investment in the Middle East region in the past five years. More importantly, the panel will discuss a principled and strategic roadmap for the future of Canada’s short-term and long-term engagement in the Middle East.

Panelists:

– Ferry de Kerckhove: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Egypt

– Dennis Horak: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

– Chris Kilford: Former Canadian Defence Attaché in Turkey, member of the national board of the Canadian International Council (CIC)

– David Dewitt: University Professor Emeritus, York University

Panel 2: The Great Power Competition in the Middle East (12:00 PM - 1:15 PM ET)

While the United States continues to pull back from certain regional conflicts, reflected by the Biden administration’s decision to halt American backing for Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen and the expected withdrawal from Afghanistan, US troops continue to be stationed across the region. Meanwhile, Russia and China have significantly maintained and even expanded their regional activities. On one hand, the Kremlin has maintained its military presence in Syria, and on the other hand, China has signed an unprecedented 25-year strategic agreement with Iran.

As the global power structure continues to shift, it is essential to analyze the future of the US regional presence under the Biden administration, explore the emerging global rivalry with Russia and China, and at last, investigate the implications of such competition for peace and security in the Middle East.

Panelists:

– Dmitri Trenin: Director of Carnegie Moscow Center

– Joost R. Hiltermann: Director of MENA Programme, International Crisis Group

– Roxane Farmanfarmaian: Affiliated Lecturer in International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa, University of Cambridge

– Andrew A. Michta: Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at Marshall Center

– Kelley Vlahos: Senior Advisor, Quincy Institute

Panel 1: A New Middle East Security Architecture in the Making (10:30 AM -11:45 AM ET)

The security architecture of the Middle East has undergone rapid transformations in an exceptionally short period. Notable developments include the United States gradual withdrawal from the region, rapprochement between Israel and some GCC states through the Abraham Accords and the rise of Chinese and Russian regional engagement.

With these new trends in the Middle East, it is timely to investigate the security implications of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy. In this respect, we will discuss the Biden team’s new approach vis-à-vis Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. The panel will also discuss the role of other major powers, including China and Russia in shaping this new security environment in the region, and how the Biden administration will respond to these powers’ increasing regional presence.

 

Panelists:

– Sanam Vakil: Deputy Director of MENA Programme at Chatham House

– Denise Natali: Acting Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies & Director of the Center for Strategic Research, National Defense University

– Hassan Ahmadian: Professor of the Middle East and North Africa Studies, University of Tehran

– Abdulaziz Sagar: Chairman, Gulf Research Center

– Andrew Parasiliti: President, Al-Monitor