Weekly Quiz: Online Scapegoating, Elver Economics, and the Old World Order

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const title = "Weekly Quiz: Online Scapegoating, Elver Economics, and the Old World Order"; const date = "February 21, 2026"; const data = [ { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20260212_16-34-54_MSC2026_lbt-1200x800.jpg", title: "In Munich, Leaders Say Goodbye to the Old World Order", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/in-munich-leaders-say-goodbye-to-the-old-world-order/", question: "In February, leaders from around the world convened at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) to assess the shifting state of geopolitics under the second Donald Trump administration. How does the conference report characterize the emerging international order?", options: [ "A renewed liberal order built on multilateral co-operation and open trade", "A “neo-royalist” and deals-based order shaped by spheres of influence and personalist deal-making", "A protectionist economic bloc system replacing globalization with closed regional markets", "A rules-based alliance system strengthened by increased co-operation among the European Union", ], answer: "A “neo-royalist” and deals-based order shaped by spheres of influence and personalist deal-making", correct: "The MSC report, titled “Under Destruction,” describes the new global order as a “neo-royalist” and “deals-based” one, characterized by the emergence of accepted spheres of influence, “private rent-seeking and distribution by involved actors” and “deal-making on a personalist basis.” The report also cautions against advancing “hope” as a strategy and urges those powers who wish to defend global institutions, rules, and norms to understand they will require substantive military capabilities and the ability to compete “across a range of strategic levers of power.”", incorrect: "The MSC report, titled “Under Destruction,” describes the new global order as a “neo-royalist” and “deals-based” one, characterized by the emergence of accepted spheres of influence, “private rent-seeking and distribution by involved actors” and “deal-making on a personalist basis.” The report also cautions against advancing “hope” as a strategy and urges those powers who wish to defend global institutions, rules, and norms to understand they will require substantive military capabilities and the ability to compete “across a range of strategic levers of power.”", }, { title: "Tumbler Ridge Is Being Used to Spread Anti-Trans Misinformation", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/tumbler-ridge-is-being-used-to-spread-anti-trans-misinformation/", question: "In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC, online right-wing commentators launched wide-ranging attacks on transgender people. According to a 2025 fact sheet produced by LGBTQ2S+ advocacy organization GLAAD, what percentage of US mass shootings between 2013 and 2025 were actually carried out by transgender individuals?", options: [ "0.1 percent", "1 percent", "5 percent", "7 percent", ], answer: "0.1 percent", correct: "Anti-trans rhetoric has become so widespread in discussions of violence and crime that GLAAD, an organization that fights discrimination against LGBTQ2S+ people, published a fact sheet in 2025 called “Debunking ‘Trans Terrorism’ and Other False Claims in High-Profile Crimes.” The fact sheet points out that of 5,748 mass shootings in the United States between 2013 and 2025, just five, or 0.1 percent, were carried out by transgender people. GLAAD also says there is no evidence of increasing radicalization or violence from transgender people.", incorrect: "Anti-trans rhetoric has become so widespread in discussions of violence and crime that GLAAD, an organization that fights discrimination against LGBTQ2S+ people, published a fact sheet in 2025 called “Debunking ‘Trans Terrorism’ and Other False Claims in High-Profile Crimes.” The fact sheet points out that of 5,748 mass shootings in the United States between 2013 and 2025, just five, or 0.1 percent, were carried out by transgender people. GLAAD also says there is no evidence of increasing radicalization or violence from transgender people.", }, { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/Walrus_DC02-1200x800.jpg", title: "Priced at Thousands of Dollars per Kilogram, Baby Eels Have Set Off a Global Frenzy", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/priced-at-thousands-of-dollars-per-kilogram-baby-eels-have-set-off-a-global-frenzy/", question: "Canada’s elver fishery has long been a flashpoint between commercial fishers and Indigenous communities asserting their treaty rights. In 2024, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) declined to open the elver season, citing threats to stock health and public safety concerns. What was the impact of this decision on commercial elver licence holders in Atlantic Canada?", options: [ "The season was shortened to a limited window with stricter monitoring requirements after protests from fishers.", "They were required to partner with Indigenous communities and independent fishers in order to retain partial access to their quotas.", "Their quotas were redistributed to Indigenous communities and independent fishers, with no compensation for losses.", "The DFO granted temporary licences for other species to help offset losses.", ], answer: "Their quotas were redistributed to Indigenous communities and independent fishers, with no compensation for losses.", correct: "Following their announcement, the DFO informed nine commercial elver licence holders in the Maritimes that their existing quotas would be redistributed to Indigenous communities and independent fishers, with no compensation for losses. For commercial fishers, it meant a loss of employment and disrupted income, marking the first major reshuffling of the elver licensing system since its establishment twenty-five years earlier. The industry turned fraught and tense, even violent.", incorrect: "Following their announcement, the DFO informed nine commercial elver licence holders in the Maritimes that their existing quotas would be redistributed to Indigenous communities and independent fishers, with no compensation for losses. For commercial fishers, it meant a loss of employment and disrupted income, marking the first major reshuffling of the elver licensing system since its establishment twenty-five years earlier. The industry turned fraught and tense, even violent.", }, { title: "The World Tried to Freeze Out the Taliban. It’s Not Working", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/the-world-tried-to-freeze-out-the-taliban-its-not-working/", question: "Since August 2021, Canada’s approach to the Taliban has been one of conditional engagement, later known as what civil servant David Sproule calls “principled engagement.” What does this policy require?", options: [ "The Taliban severing all ties with regional militant groups.", "The Taliban holding immediate, nationwide, democratic elections under the supervision of the United Nations.", "The Taliban lifting restrictions on domestic media, reopening all foreign embassies in Kabul, and reforming their criminal code.", "The Taliban protecting the rights of women and girls, co-operating on counterterrorism, and not interfering with Afghan resettlement.", ], answer: "The Taliban protecting the rights of women and girls, co-operating on counterterrorism, and not interfering with Afghan resettlement.", correct: "According to Sproule, who served as Canada’s special representative for Afghanistan from 2021 until his retirement in 2025, this means the government would only negotiate with the Taliban if they meet certain requirements, including protecting the rights of women and girls, co-operating on counterterrorism campaigns, and not interfering with the resettlement of Afghans. Canada is also calling for inclusive governance in Afghanistan—which, Sproule points out, does not require the country to hold democratic elections but to ensure women, ethnic and linguistic minorities, and non-Taliban representatives be allowed to participate in government. But such conditions and demands seem to have had little effect.", incorrect: "According to Sproule, who served as Canada’s special representative for Afghanistan from 2021 until his retirement in 2025, this means the government would only negotiate with the Taliban if they meet certain requirements, including protecting the rights of women and girls, co-operating on counterterrorism campaigns, and not interfering with the resettlement of Afghans. Canada is also calling for inclusive governance in Afghanistan—which, Sproule points out, does not require the country to hold democratic elections but to ensure women, ethnic and linguistic minorities, and non-Taliban representatives be allowed to participate in government. But such conditions and demands seem to have had little effect.", }, ];