The United Nations in the Modern World: Blessing or Burden

Professor Chapnick is a professor of defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC).  He also serves as the deputy director of education at the Canadian Forces College.

Professor Chapnick holds a BA (Honours) from Trent University, an MA in International Affairs from Carleton University, and a PhD in History from the University of Toronto. He joined the RMC in 2006 and currently teaches courses in Canadian government and strategic decision-making, critical thinking and writing, and Canadian international policy. 

Professor Chapnick is the author or editor of seven books, including The Middle Power Project: Canada and the Founding of the United Nations (2005), and The Harper Era in Canadian Foreign Policy (2016). 

He is also a regular commentator in the public realm. In 2013, he wrote a weekly on-line column on national politics for the Toronto Star. He has appeared as a foreign policy expert on CTV and CBC radio, and has testified as an expert witness before the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence. He is currently writing a book about Canada and the United Nations Security Council.

The United Nations in the Modern World: Blessing or Burden

Ever since the United Nations was founded in 1945, critics have deemed it a disappointment.  Scandals, peacekeeping failures, and humanitarian disasters have all persisted under the UN's watch.  But there have also been successes: global deaths from diseases have fallen by almost 50% since 2005; tuberculosis infections are down 25%; polio has almost been eradicated.  This lecture considers the place of the United Nations in the modern world from a Canadian perspective.  It takes into consideration past, present, and future challenges as well as Canada's place in the world's most significant international organization.