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The first International Policy Position paper to be submitted by a University or College class is here: Leading a proposal to achieve nuclear power balance within a mulitlateral approach (Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia)
We foresee two ways in which Canadian Studies classes could participate in the eDiscussions:
I. Policy Position Papers:
 We're asking Canadian Studies classes to help frame the eDiscussion by providing us with a policy position paper on the discussion topic which we will post online in our resource section.
Classes prepare policy position papers to the Department, up to 750 words, on the eDiscussion topic outlining policy options for the Canadian government. We have provided a policy position paper template as a model for formatting policy position paper submissions.
Questions are provided to help frame the policy position papers:
NACD General
1. What are the main NACD threats facing Canada today?
2. In a post-9/11 world, what should be the role of multilateral fora - such as the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the UN Disarmament Commission and the UN General Assembly's First Committee - in furthering NACD?
3. How can we deal with the threat of former weapons scientists selling their expertise or defecting to states of proliferation concern or terrorists groups?
Nuclear Non-Proliferation:
1. How can the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) achieve universal acceptance among the states currently outside of the regime (India, Pakistan, Israel, DPRK)?
2. How can Canada best promote a nuclear-weapons-free world?
3. What is the main nuclear threat facing Canada today?
Small Arms and Light Weapons:
1. What are the best ways to curb the proliferation of SALW in conflict-affected areas, considering both the demand and supply aspects of the problem? 2. How can Canada's policy on SALW better address age and gender issues? 3. What can the international community do to more proactively pursue disarmament and non-proliferation of SALW? 4. The role of armed non-state actors has grown over the past two decades. How can disarmament programs best curb the transfer of antipersonnel mines and/or small arms and light weapons to such groups? 5. Is the international community adequately addressing the landmine issue? Should Canada maintain its leadership role in the mine action community? 6. How can the international community better help mine-afflicted countries to meet the needs of surviving landmine victims?
Biological Weapons:
1. Is the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention relevant to the security threats we face today, or has the end of the Cold War rendered it obsolete?
2. Rapid advances in the life sciences and biotech sector are making knowledge of potentially dangerous technologies widely available. This know-how could be used for life-saving scientific research as well as for the creation of powerful biological weapons. Can Canada defend against the malicious use of this information? If so, how?
3. The spread of infectious diseases -- whether they be naturally occurring (i.e. disease outbreak) or man-made (i.e. bioterrorism) -- has global ramifications and poses serious threats to international public health, development, prosperity and security. What further steps can be taken to combat the entire range of biological threats?
Chemical Weapons:
1. Is the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) an effective instrument for preventing terrorists and non-state actors from acquiring or developing chemical weapons?
The paper will represent the class.
In late October, they will be posted on the Canadian International Policy Internet site as a resource for the eDiscussion.
At the end of each eDiscussion, the submissions are summarized by our staff. This summary is then circulated within Foreign Affairs whose topic experts draft a reply which is posted on the website.
Send completed Policy Position Papers here for posting in our resource section: Sarah.Macleod@international.gc.ca
Example of a Policy Positon Paper from the Failed and Fragile States eDiscussion:
Meeting Urban Human Security Challenges in Failed and Fragile States - University of Winnipeg
II. Classroom Debate
Use the extensive background material on the eDiscussion site to promote discussion and debate in class on "Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament."
Students may find this program flyer on the eDiscussion project (PDF) useful.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR INSTRUCTORS:
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
BACKGROUND MATERIAL AND COURSE RESOURCES:
Past eDiscussions and their resources -- to give you an idea of what you can expect in January:
Policy Discussion Archive
Past eDiscussion Resources
For more information please contact Sarah MacLeod (613-944-0661 or Sarah.Macleod@international.gc.ca). |
