Name: UN Peacekeeping and Canadian Security
Start: 2026-04-22T19:00:00-06:00
Location: 2919 8 Ave NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, Alberta T2N 1C8

What can Canada do in the changing and challenging world order?
The US has shifted from a semi-reliable UN supporter to a destructive and divisive force. Peacekeeping and institution-building is needed more than ever. Middle powers, like Canada, as during the Cold War, have an opportunity to creatively build peace operations, especially in the US leadership vacuum. Dr. Dorn will explore the lessons of history to show a path forward for Canada.
Walter Dorn is Professor of Defence Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) and the Canadian Forces College (CFC). He teaches officers of rank major to brigadier-general from Canada and about 20 other countries. He specializes in arms control, international criminal law, just war theory, peace operations, treaty verification and enforcement, and the United Nations.
As an "operational professor" he participates in field missions and assists international organizations. For instance, he was a UN Electoral Officer for the 1999 referendum in East Timor and a Visiting Professional with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2010. He also served as a consultant with the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations, including in 2014 as a member of the Expert Panel on Technology and Innovation in UN Peacekeeping. In 2020, during sabbatical leave, Dr. Dorn was with the UN as a "Technology Innovation Expert" exploring technologies for testing, piloting and employing in UN field operations. In 2021, he is doing consulting work for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Dr. Dorn seeks to promote international peace and security through teaching, research and service, including field work. This website offers some of the results of this effort, especially publications.
Dr. Dorn has represented a Canadian NGO, Science for Peace, at the United Nations since 1983. He also represents the Canadian Pugwash Group, which he chaired for three terms.
Two of his books are Air Power in UN Operations: Wings for Peace (Ashgate, 2014) and Keeping Watch: Monitoring, Technology, and Innovation in UN Peace Operations (UNU Press, 2011). He has also developed digital simulations of peace/peacekeeping operations for training and education (www.peacekeepingsim.net).