The Co-Chairs of the 2013 University of Manitoba Political Studies Students' Conference (PSSC) are pleased to announce its 29th forum on politics, defence, and security.

This year’s conference includes six panels and 14 eminent speakers, with General (Ret.) Ray Henault (former Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada, and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee).

The conference will explore the challenges and opportunities that Canada and its relationship with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will face in the years following the War in Afghanistan. We believe that Canada’s participation with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan may have fundamentally altered its relationship with the Alliance.   Accordingly the conference’s panels will address the following:

-The context of Canadian defence and security policy
-Nuclear and Arms Control
-Canada beyond NATO in North American defence
-Canada beyond NATO with its relations with the rest of the globe
-Canada and its relationship with NATO
-What to expect in a post Afghan-War world.
The conference will be a tribute to the academic career of Dr. Paul Edward Buteux, who passed away this past March. Dr. Buteux had a long and distinguished academic career where much of his research focused on NATO as well as Canadian foreign and defence policy. Dr. Buteux established the PSSC in 1985 as part of his strong commitment to students at the University of Manitoba.

The conference seeks to engage leading academics, government officials, students and the public in an open forum and debate on issues of contemporary relevance in politics and related fields. The conference is open to the public and free of charge for all participants, as part of our effort to ensure the broadest possible dialogue.

Come and start thinking big!