National Bank is proud to support the Raoul Dandurand Chair in Strategic and Diplomatic Studies (French only) at UQÀM by donating $250,000 to create a research center to improve our understanding of multidimensional conflicts.
The program, which includes conferences, research and training, will be designed to spark dialogue and share the latest observations on complex conflicts involving various actions, such as cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns and economic sanctions generally launched by sovereign states. This new center will help cast light on the causes and consequences of such conflicts, as well as seek resolution measures.
"Today, the private sector can no longer watch conflicts emerge around the world and stand on the sidelines. For example, political events between two countries can have a real impact on the economy of a country, its citizens and its businesses. We need to delve deeper into these matters by leveraging the knowledge and expertise that exist in our education system and businesses, and the Raoul Dandurand Chair is extremely well positioned to help with this. The quality of its researchers, the work they do, and their track record for popularization will be particularly helpful in advancing discussions on these matters," stated Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank.
"The Raoul Dandurand Chair was created in 1996 to help Quebecers and Canadians gain a better understanding of international conflicts. Considering how electoral interference campaigns are undermining our democracies, how the information we consume is sometimes of questionable quality, and how our dependence on information technology is making us ever more vulnerable, the Raoul Dandurand Chair is pleased to contribute to developing Canadian expertise on situations that are of increasing concern to our societies," explained Frédérick Gagnon, Raoul Dandurand Chairholder.