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Civic Engagement: Perspectives on Active Citizen Participation in Political Life
Get PDFThis paper was originally written for Dr. Laurent Dobuzinskis’ POL 210 course Introduction to Political Philosophy. The assignment asked students to choose a question from a provided list and form a well-researched stance, analyzing the philosophies of various political thinkers. The paper uses Chicago citation style.
Citizen participation in politics is a relevant topic which connects to social matters and impacts decision-making and laws within society. This subject harbours a rich history, ranging back to ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, and has continued to evolve. Thinkers like Hobbes, Plato, and Nozick were dubious of civic engagement for reasons such as absolute sovereign authority and citizens’ predetermined societal positions. Conversely, Rousseau and Aristotle advocated for citizen participation with the rationales of the common good and collective deliberation being effective, since man has a natural aptitude for politics. Regardless, there are historical nuances to each outlook and to develop an opinion one must thoroughly examine the complex beliefs of each individual
Intersections of Influence: Exploring the Nexus between Mass Media and Security
Get PDFOn February 15, 2024, Dr. Scott Watson presented Intersections of Influence: Exploring the Nexus between Mass Media and Security. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the significant role of mass media in shaping public perceptions and policymaker attitudes on various security levels; the diffusion of media ownership, particularly in social media, allows for broader participation yet lacks the journalistic norms and ethics seen in traditional media; and how all types of media can produce insecurity through the spread of simplistic narratives, false equivalencies, the decline in societal trust, and the platforming of foreign influences.
Received: 02-26-2024
Revised: 03-01-202
Canadian Foreign Defense Policy: Keeping up with Changing Global Landscapes
Get PDFOn April 18, 2024, Dr. Jean-Christophe Boucher presented Canadian Foreign Defense Policy: Keeping up with Changing Global Landscapes at the CASIS April Digital Roundtable. The presentation was followed by a question-and- answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the need for greater defense spending in Canada and Dr. Boucher’s study on the factors contributing to public support for greater defense spending. The study found that the presence of external threats determines support for funding, however socio-demographic factors may also correlate to individuals’ views on defense spending.
Received: 05-01-2024
Revised: 05-05-202
Untangling the Threads of Singlehood: Examining Relationship Pedestal Beliefs, Attachment Styles and Singlehood Satisfaction
No full textPeople who have relationship related insecurities may struggle with being single – but why? This study aims to explore the association between attachment anxiety and avoidance on singlehood satisfaction, and whether this is mediated by relationship pedestal beliefs (i.e., the belief that people need a romantic partner to be truly happy). It utilized a self-report questionnaire completed by 504 single participants. Overall, the results were mixed. People who were higher in attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were both less likely to be satisfied with singlehood status and were more likely to endorse relationship pedestal beliefs. However, contrary to our hypotheses, relationship pedestal beliefs were not associated with singlehood satisfaction, and thus was not a significant mediator for explaining why insecure individuals were less satisfied with singlehood. Taken together, the results of the mediating model illustrate that other potential variables may be responsible for why highly anxious or avoidant single people tend to report dissatisfaction with their singlehood status.
Faculty Supervisor: Yuthika Girme, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser Universit
Psychological and physiological effects of visual stimulation with artificial natural structures and indoor plants: A randomized controlled trial
Get PDFThe link between natural environments and positive effects on humans is well established. Spending time in nature or naturally designed spaces is associated with positive physiological and psychological effects. We wanted to investigate whether positive effects could also be observed with structures that were created completely digitally. For this purpose, we conducted a three-arm randomized controlled trial to test the following main hypothesis: Viewing artificial natural structures has positive effects on participants, comparable to the effects of an indoor plant. We expected the artificial natural structures to lower stress, blood pressure, and pulse, and to improve emotional aspects such as well-being and relaxation. For this purpose, we carried out two interventions and a control situation. Mixed ANOVAS were conducted to test the hypotheses. We found a significant interaction effect for the variable stress. The stress level, assessed on a four-point scale, decreased the most in the group with the artificial natural structures, from 2.10 to 1.63 between pre- and post-intervention. We could not find any interaction effects for the other variables. Furthermore, the participants rated the artificial natural structures as significantly more aesthetic than the indoor plant. There are therefore indications of a positive effect of the artificial natural structures
A Problem of Perception: Direct Realism and Representationalism
No full textDespite its conceptual palpability, intuitiveness, and common presumption, the Direct Realist theory of perception is not fully consistent with the scientific literature. If external stimuli are sufficient to produce percepts but unnecessary for their generation (as with dreams), then the veridicality of perception ought to be scrutinized as a valid scientific postulate. In this paper, I shall defend a Representationalist account of perception consistent with scientific literature, highlighting its empirical basis and its philosophical feasibility
INTERNATIONAL POLICE COOPERATION: REDUCING GLOBAL CRIME AND HARM
Get PDFOn November 14, 2023, Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien, New Zealand Police, presented International Police Cooperation: Reducing Global Crime and Harm for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The key points discussed were the advantages and challenges of collaborative international policing, upcoming challenges due to technological advancements, and the significance of advancing through consent, legitimacy, and evidence-based global policing practices.
Received: 12-19-2023
Revised: 01-26-202
CONSIDERATIONS FOR UPDATING THE CONTEMPORARY INTELLIGENCE CYCLE TO THE CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENT
Get PDFOn November 17, 2023, Professor Candyce Kelshall presented Considerations for Updating the Contemporary Intelligence Cycle to the Contemporary Environment for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed were the importance of an effective Intelligence Cycle, the main issues with the Intelligence Cycle, and the new proposed Review Centric Cycle.
Received: 01-04-2024
Revised: 01-20-202