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Democracy Promotion eDiscussion Contest
Contest deadline - March 11, 2007 |
Contest Highlights
The Rights & Democracy Network and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada are holding a contest for students participating in the eDiscussion on Democracy Promotion.
Students can participate in two formats:
 as a representative of their class/student team
as an individual
Prizes include collections of:
DVDs;
a 1 year subscription to an international publication related to human rights, democracy and foreign affairs;
an invitation to attend the Rights & Democracy Network National Event to be held in Montreal in March 2007.
LEARN MORE
Questions are provided to help frame the discussion.
1. Each country develops its own model of governance to secure the democratic rights of its citizens. Most democracies nevertheless rely on a combination of the rule of law, free and fair elections, effective legislatures, an accountable executive branch, independent courts, a transparent and efficient public sector, human rights guarantees, competitive political parties, free media, and an active civil society to secure the rights of their citizens. Should Canada provide assistance to support all of these elements of democratic governance, or should we favour some over others in our democracy assistance?
2. How can Canada help citizens in other countries address obstacles to the full realization of their democratic rights presented by:
a. conflict and state fragility
b. poverty
c. authoritarian governments
3. What other prominent obstacles to democratic governance should Canada address in designing policies and programs to guide democracy assistance?
4. What principles should guide the delivery of Canadian democracy assistance?
5. How might Canada consider lessons from other countries in improving our own standards of democratic governance?
We foresee a number of ways in which classes and NGOs could participate in the eDiscussions:
I. Policy Positition Papers:
We're asking classes and NGOs from across the country 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 government. We have provided a policy position paper template as a model for formatting policy position paper submissions. The paper will represent the class or NGO.
In late February, 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
II. Engagement in eDiscussion
We're encouraging students as well as all Canadians to get involved in the eDiscussion on an individual basis.
To enhance student participation, a portion of the class participation grade could consist of each student making a submission to the eDiscussion.
III. Classroom Debate
Use the extensive background material on the eDiscussion site to promote discussion and debate in class on "democracy promotion".
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:
eDiscussion Guidelines
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) |
