Centre for Defence and Security Studies

Since the inception of the Programme in Strategic Studies in 1986, and its recognition as the Centre for Defence and Security Studies by the Senate of the University of Manitoba in 1993, the CDSS has encouraged interest and informed debate in the area of Security, Strategic and Defence Studies. The Centre is linked to the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba.

The CDSS promotes student interest at the undergraduate and graduate level through a coherent and innovative teaching curriculum. Its research programme undertaken by faculty and research associates is published through its Occasional Paper Series. The CDSS actively involves itself with the community at large through its multi-faceted outreach initiatives. Consequently, the Centre has established an outstanding reputation for its endeavours within the University of Manitoba and the community at large, locally, nationally and internationally.

The CDSS undertakes research into all aspects of international security. The Centre has its own specialist research staff who work closely with other researchers at the University of Manitoba. The CDSS also has links with other Centres and Institutes in Canada and around the world. These relationships enable the Centre to pursue an inter-disciplinary approach to questions of international security where appropriate.

The Centre is interested in undertaking collaborative inter-disciplinary research in the areas of defence and international security. Research proposals are invited from scholars at other centres/institutes who wish to collaborate with the Centre.

The Security and Defence Forum

The CDSS and its predecessor, the Research Program in Strategic Studies, is one of thirteen centres of excellence supported by the annual grant program of the Security and Defence Forum (SDF), Directorate of Public Policy, Department of National Defence (formerly the Military and Strategic Studies Grant Program). Established in 1967, the SDF is mandated to promote the development and maintenance of domestic scholarly competence and national interest in defence issues of current and future relevance to Canadian security. SDF centres of defence and security excellence are selected on a competitive basis by the independent SDF Selection Committee consisting of senior academics, representatives of the Canadian public with experience and knowledge of the academic community and defence and security studies, and members from the Department of National Defence. Universities compete on a five-year cycle with their performance evaluated on an annual basis by the Selection Committee. For information, please visit http://www.forces.gc.ca/admpol