joel marion (dot) blogspot (dot) com
My name is Joel. This is my Blog.

Monday, March 03, 2008
Exploring Canada's Role in the World
For the last two months I have been working as an intern on a project called "Canada's World." Below is a brief summary of the project.

For more information please contact me at joel(a)canadasworld.ca or visit the website www.canadasworld.ca


A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CANADA’S WORLD

INTRODUCTION
Canada’s World is a national citizens’ dialogue on international policy. It is not an organization, but a collaboration of many academic institutions, organizations and individuals who wish to enhance Canada’s international reputation and who seek to articulate and advance a new international policy for Canada – a policy that:
  • builds on Canadian values, assets and interests;
  • demonstrates a strong understanding of the complexities of international relations;
  • acknowledges the different actors involved in Canada’s international relations;
  • addresses some of the key global challenges;
  • reflects the diversity of Canadian society and;
  • is future-oriented, compelling and effective.
RATIONALE
Canada’s World has elaborated a detailed rationale in a longer overview – here
are some of the highlights:
  • Canada’s profile and position internationally has eroded leaving many confused about Canadian international policy.
  • The gap between perception and reality of Canada’s place in the world is growing.
  • International policy is fundamental to every aspect of our daily lives, but few Canadians know or understand much about it.
  • Former consultations have been led by government, have been narrow in scope and have not embraced the changing nature of Canadian society.
  • Discussions about international policy are becoming increasingly polarized.
  • Our perceptions of ourselves as a nation are evolving.
  • The actors shaping our international policy are shifting and as a consequence the nature of government decision-making is changing.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT CANADA’S WORLD?
  • Unlike traditional policy reviews and consultations led by government, this initiative is led by citizens and organizations and funded by individuals, businesses, international organizations and foundations who wish to enhance Canada’s international reputation.
  • The initiative has been designed to bridge dialogue across generations, sectors and ideologies.
  • Canada’s World uses an “open source” approach to policy development and interactive technology to enhance dialogue (e.g. social networking sites like Facebook, as well as online dialogues and blogs).
  • Canada’s World recognizes that the demographic make up of Canada has changed. Special efforts are focused on reflecting the views of Canada’s diverse communities.
  • The dialogue is shaped around the “new realities” that Canada is facing in the international arena.
ACTIVITIES

Research and Development

In the development phase, Canada’s World approached key academic, private and non-profit organizations to join us as collaborators in the initiative. Each collaborating organization has played a role in shaping the Canada’s World programme.

In the fall of 2007, Canada’s World conducted research on the “new realities facing Canada in the international arena”. Research included an online dialogue on Facebook, ten roundtable sessions and interviews with over a hundred Canadians. Based on the research, the Canada’s World Advisory committee selected nine new realities as themes to focus the citizens’ dialogue. Canada’s World will also field a poll of Canadian attitudes towards international policy. The poll will be led by Environics and will build on their 25 years of research in the field.

Website

In January, with the technical and financial support of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Canada’s World will launch a sophisticated website that will include online forums, quizzes and a timeline on Canadian foreign policy. It will be a key communication vehicle for each component of the initiative.

Deliberative Dialogue Process
Canada’s World will organize eight regional dialogues across the country. Thirty Canadians will be randomly selected to participate in each two-day dialogue. Each dialogue will focus on three of the ‘new realities’ that Canada is facing in the international arena. Reports generated following each session will feed into a national virtual dialogue that will take place in the spring of 2008.

Self-organized dialogues

In addition to the deliberative dialogue process, dozens of organizations, business groups and academic institutions will host their own dialogues, kitchen roundtables, events and fora with their members and constituencies. Canada’s World has specifically designed a targeted campaign to reach out to ethnocultural and youth organizations and ensure that they are fully engaged in
the initiative. Canada’s World is also developing materials to help support organizations that would like to run their own dialogue.

In the Fall of 2008, the regional and sector-wide dialogues will culminate in a national dialogue. The outcome of this national event will be a Citizens’ Agenda, as well as a book that will highlight the views expressed during the dialogue process.

Advancing the Citizens’ Policy Agenda
In the last year of the initiative, the focus of Canada’s World will shift from engaging Canadians in the dialogue to communicating the outcomes of the initiative to government, the media and key policy stakeholders with the aim of modernizing our international policy and enhancing Canada’s leadership role internationally.

- HOW DO I GET INVOLVED IN CANADA'S WORLD?
- Read the POLL on how Canadians see our role in the world
- Join the Conversation
- Learn More about your Country and the World
- Volunteer with us
- What is this great conversation?

For more information please contact me at joel(a)canadasworld.ca or visit the website www.canadasworld.ca