9&10.12.2024 : JMCM & NAS symposium

The Politicization of Defense and Strategic Orientation Issues

This event will explore the politicization of defense issues and its implications for strategic and political decision-making. Through four panel discussions led by international experts, the discussions will address:

• The effects of media coverage and polarization on defense and public policy decisions
• The influence of electoral periods on defense issues
• The impact of foreign interference and fake news on these matters
• Possible countermeasures to combat disinformation and negative politicization

Dates: December 9 and 10, 2024 Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Montreal time) Format: Online

Registration: https://urlr.me/YmhSTv

Program

Monday, December 9

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM : Opening Remarks Dr. Laurent Borzillo, Visiting Researcher (CCEAE, UdeM/ENAP)

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM – Panel 1: The Politicization of Defense and Strategic Orientation Issues: Realities and Consequences

Topics: Impact on decision-making when issues are mediated; influence on defense decisions such as military operations and acquisitions; defense, a traditionally consensus-driven public policy area, undergoing polarization.

Moderator: Prof. Frédéric Mérand (UdeM)

• Jean-Charles Larsonneur (Member of the French National Assembly, 2017–2024)
• Laurent Charbonneau (UdeM)
• Laurent Borzillo, Visiting Researcher (CCEAE, UdeM/ENAP)

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM – Break

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM – Panel 2: Politicization During Electoral Periods: Can a Defense or Strategic Orientation Issue Become a Major Election or Political Issue?

Topics: Elections in Moldova and Georgia (Fall 2024); the Russo-Ukrainian War as a topic in Western democracies; defense issues during elections.

Moderator: Prof. Delphine Deschaux-Dutard (Université Grenoble Alpes)

• Florian Galleri (Université de Nantes)
• Justin Massie (UQAM)
• Maud Quessard (IRSEM)
• Romain Le Quiniou (Euro Créative)

Tuesday, December 10

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Panel 3: The Politicization of Defense and Strategic Orientation Issues: A Consequence of Interference and the Spread of Fake News

Topics: Impact of foreign interference and fake news dissemination on defense issues; the role of external actors in shaping public opinion and political decisions.

Moderator: Manon Fitzpatrick (Université de Genève)

• Jean F. Crombois (American University in Bulgaria)
• Maxime Audinet (IRSEM)
• Magdalena Dembińska (UdeM)

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM : Break

10:30 AM – 11:50 AM – Panel 4: What Countermeasures Against Fake News and Negative Politicization of Defense Issues? Can Politicization Be a Solution?

Topics: Strategies to counter fake news and mitigate negative politicization; exploring the potential of positive politicization as a framework for constructive engagement in defense issues.

Moderator: Jean-Modération: Diya Jiang (McGill University)

• Jean-Charles Larsonneur (Member of the French National Assembly, 2017–2024)
• Cristian Preda (University of Bucharest)
• Yannick Pincé (CIENS)
• Laurent Cordonier (Fondation Descartes)
• Tom Morin-Robinson (NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division)

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM – Closing Remarks

This event is organized in partnership with the Network for Strategic Analysys (NAS), Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS), the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies (CCÉAE), and the Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program.