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eDiscussion documents presented to Deputy Minister Peter Harder and the Foreign Affairs Executive Committee on Dec. 9th 2005:
eDiscussion Summary on Failed and Fragile States - PDF VERSION
Summary of the university Policy Position Papers - PDF VERSION
Official Response to eDiscussion on Failed and Fragile States - PDF VERSION eDiscussion Questions:
Canada's International Policy Statement and Failed and Fragile States What are your thoughts/comments on the approach taken towards failed and fragile states in Canada's International Policy Statement?
MORE INFO: International Policy Statement - Failed and Fragile States: the New Challenge
Short vs long term commitment? Prevention, stabilization and recovery operations in failed and fragile states tend to require a long term commitment of significant resources. How do we sustain the public and political commitment required to ensure our contribution to the state-building process is durable and effective? Response criteria? Canada does not have the capacity or resources to respond to every crisis or request. Under what conditions should we not assist a failed or fragile state? Stability vs democracy? Holding elections prior to the stabilization of the security situation and the development of a democratic political culture can contribute to instability. Given this, in cases where there are significant risks of destabilization, should Canada support undemocratic modes of rule in the medium-term in the interests of long-term stability and democracy? Failed and Fragile Cities? Many of the challenges associated with failed and fragile states can be traced to major urban centres. For example, stabilization efforts in cities are complicated by high population densities, the difficulty of locating combatants, the high risk of civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure and the potential for the spread of disease. Do urban and rural areas differ in the human security challenges they present? Do urban areas require new ways of thinking about human security? If yes, how can existing mechanisms for conflict prevention, stability operations and peacebuilding be adapted to address the particular issues associated with failed and fragile cities?
MORE INFO: Failed and fragile cities: human security in urban spaces
eDiscussion Resources:
Before posting to the eDiscussion group we strongly suggest you read/watch the international policy content presented on this site. We provide reports, netcasts and links to other resources to help frame our Feature Issue.
Key Departmental Resources |
"International Policy Statement" Building a More Secure World - Diplomacy Chapter The Canadian Forces in an Unpredictable World - Defence Chapter A World in Transition - Development Chapter
Netcast Interviews |
![](https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20061106012402im_/http://www.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/site/images/client_image/icon_chesterman.jpg) | The Concept of a Failing State Dr. Simon Chesterman discusses the concept of a failing state. Simon Chesterman is Executive Director of the Institute for International Law and Justice at New York University School of Law. |
VIEW ALL FAILED AND FRAGILE STATES NETCAST INTERVIEWS
Midterm Summary Report - Sept. 26 to Oct. 27 |
Fragile and Failed States eDiscussion Results. The debate up to now has been informed, thoughtful and constructive. View the key points of agreement and disagreement through out the eDiscussion. FORMAT: HTML | PDF
We have asked university classes across Canada to help frame the eDiscussion by providing us with a policy position paper on the discussion topic. | LEARN MORE
Please find the summary of the policy position papers here: HTML | PDF
University of British Columbia | POLI 373 "Ethics in World Politics" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
Saint Mary's University
| POLI 2315 "Canadian Foreign Policy" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
University of Calgary | INTR 501 "International Relations"
Runner-Up* | HTML | PDF (English only) HTML | PDF (English only) |
Wilfred Laurier University | PO327 "Post Conflict Reconstruction" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
University of Winnipeg | "Canada in the World" "Canada in the World" * | HTML | PDF (English only) HTML | PDF (English only) |
Dalhousie University | POLI 5531 "UN in World Politics" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
Cape Breton University | POLS 430 "Seminar in International Relations: Human Security" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
Royal Military College of Canada | "Canadian Foreign and Defence Policy"
| HTML | PDF (English only) |
University of Montreal | POL 1600 "Introduction aux relations internationales" Runner-Up*
| HTML | PDF (French only) HTML | PDF (French only) |
Mount Allison University
| INLR 3101 "Global Governance" | HTML | PDF (English only) |
University of Windsor | "Political Problems and Economic Development" Runner-Up 1 * Runner-Up 2 * | HTML | PDF (English only) HTML | PDF (English only) HTML | PDF (English only) |
Carleton University
| BPAPM 4000 "Seminar in Public Affairs and Policy Management" | HTML | PDF (English Only) |
Bishop's University | POL 140 "International Relations" | HTML | PDF (English Only) |
* Indicates exceptional circumstances
Other Departmental Resources |
Afghanistan and Canada's International Policy Canada has three primary objectives in Afghanistan: help stabilise the country; strengthen governance; and improve the lives of Afghans. Canadian diplomacy is playing a key role in working to achieve these goals.
Canada: Active in Sudan The persistent marginalization of remote areas has embroiled Sudan in civil conflicts almost since its independence from Britain in 1956. To help restore peace, the Government of Canada has been helping to address the root causes of Sudan's conflicts for over 20 years.
Reconstructing Haiti In May 2000, legislative and local elections triggered a major political crisis in Haiti. Since this crisis began, Canada has taken a stand in favour of a political agreement that would be the result of broad-based consensus among the Government, political parties and civil society in Haiti. |