The Canadian Foreign Policy Journal is requesting submissions on the topic of ‘Canada, Energy, and International Affairs’. The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2022.
CFPJ is a fully peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal published by the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University, Canada. Readers include government officials, academics, students of international affairs, journalists, NGOs, and the private sector. Established in 1992, CFPJ is now Canada’s leading journal of international affairs.
Canada, Energy, Climate Change, and the Clash of Nations
The world is undergoing a dramatic change in energy geopolitics. Over the course of a decade, the U.S. became a net exporter of petroleum and the largest oil producer in the world. Across the Atlantic, Russia has used its hydrocarbon resources as a source of leverage and influence. The top three CO2 polluters – China, USA, and India – meanwhile, drive their industrial development by consuming fossil fuels at unprecedented rates. Amidst these shifts, one aspect remains constant: having secure access to energy drives national power and development. For example, in 2019, 759 million people lived without electricity. An estimated 660 million people will still lack access to reliable energy by 2030.
Technological developments to manage climate change are improving. Electric vehicle and solar and wind power offer low-carbon methods of transportation and electrification. Yet such developments generate new interests – often contested – over control of the rare minerals needed for these technologies. What’s more, the life cycle of C02 emissions inherent in these technologies are themselves considerable. Nuclear energy is considered safer than ever but perhaps not safe enough for some. Hydrogen fusion could prove to be a major breakthrough but not for the foreseeable future. Some tout natural gas (and the fracking method used to extract it) as a low-carbon substitute for coal in the production of electricity. Others still point towards the fantastic rates at which traditional fossil fuels are decarbonising. But, in their own ways, each of these options are both controversial and politically challenging.
For its part, Canada has not lacked ambition, agreeing to meet aggressive new emissions standards at COP26 despite its status as one of the world’s largest polluters per capita. Achieving Canada’s climate goals has proven to be a huge political, economic, and technological undertaking provincially and federally. Transnational climate activism has successfully impeded major infrastructure projects, including the Keystone XL, Northern Gateway, and Energy East pipelines. Social justice clearly matters. The Canadian government has not yet found the right policy mix between satisfying demands for the construction of new energy infrastructure – green or otherwise – and the legal requirements now mandated by the 2021 adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
This CFPJ special issue is about understanding and explaining the policy dilemmas Canada and the world faces. We are seeking answers to core questions including, can Canada balance its moral obligations to alleviating energy poverty through cheap energy from its fossil fuel resources, with its moral obligation to reduce emissions? What are Canada’s comparative advantages in the green energy sector and how can these be strengthened? How can Canada implement the pledges made at COP26 in an economically sustainable way? How will the adoption of UNDRIP affect Canada’s ability to construct major energy infrastructure? What is relationship between energy dependence and geopolitics? When and how should energy be used as a political tool?
We invite thematic essays, policy commentaries, comparative studies, historical reviews, economic, public health, and international law perspectives. Full articles should be between 6,000-7,000 words while policy commentaries should be between 1,500-2000 words. Peer reviewed submissions will be published in Volume 28, No.3
CFPJ foregrounds quantitative and qualitative methodologies, especially empirically based original studies that facilitate balanced and fresh analysis to serve theory, policy, and strategy development.
Articles submitted to the Journal should be original contributions and are subject to rigorous peer review. With occasional exceptions, the editors prioritize articles based on empirically grounded research using strong quantitative and/or qualitative social science research methods. When submitting, please indicate clearly if the article is under consideration by another publisher. Articles are read by the journal’s editors as well as through the double blind peer review process.
Submission information:
Full articles: 6000-7000 words;
Policy Commentaries: short policy briefings engaging key topics in international policy, 1500- 2000 words;
Book reviews: 1000 word maximum for single reviews, 2500 for multi-book review.
To begin the submission process: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rcfp
For Author Guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcfp20/current
Please email inquiries to David Carment, Editor (david.carment@carleton.ca) or Managing Editor, Marshall Palmer (marshall_palmer@ carleton.ca) with the subject heading: “CFPJ – Call for submissions – Canada, Energy, Climate Change, and The Clash of Nations.”
View PDF version here.
