More Congo Information

The morning of April 26th, CBC Radio "The Current" explored the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in particular, Canada's role in the events.

(Right click to download the podcast)

Listen to the audio program for more information. (approx. 20 minutes)

More Congo Articles:

Globe and Mail:
"If Canada's Military is Itching for a fight..."

J.L. Granatstein, "Defining Canada's Role in the Congo"

"Canadian General Leading Candidate to Lead Mission in Congo"

Canada's State Visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, April 2010

Canada's Governor General is currently on a state tour through Africa.

Read the official itinerary while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Visit the Governor General's web site for the full itinerary while in Africa.

Read Gerald Caplan's opinion piece in the Globe and Mail, assessing the politics behind the vice-regal visit to African countries.

Talk of Canada Assuming Leadership Role in UN Operations in Congo?

Read Brett House and Desiree McGraw's opinion piece in the Globe and Mail on Canada's foreign aid and development policies in Africa.

Congo -- More Deaths Than Iraq & Afghanistan Combined....

Question: Given the scale and nature of the conflict in the D.R. Congo, is there any evidence Canadian foreign policy still operates on the human security agenda?

To construct your blog post:
i) paragraph detailing the origin and nature of the conflict in the D.R. Congo;
ii) paragraph detailing Canada's foreign policy towards the D.R. Congo;
iii) paragraph arguing your answer to the problem question.

Make an effort to establish references through the use of hotlinks and more traditional referencing techniques. Take advantage of the opportunities web publishing provides you.

Media Resources:
From the Globe and Mail:
Geoffry York, "The Bleak Calculus of Congo's War Without End," The Globe and Mail, (27 March, 2010).

The Anatomy of Congo's Bloodbath

Exodus from Congo's War

Disarming Congo's Rebels

From the BBC:
"The Human Cost of Mining in the DR. Congo" (2, September, 2009).

BBC: Congo's Silent Harvest of Death

Frontline Documentary:
Congo on the Brink

The Guardian:
World News: Democratic Republic of the Congo

NGO Resources:
Doctors Without Borders:
Doctors Without Borders: Top 10 Humanitarian Crises, 2009

Doctors Without Borders: Conflict in Easter D.R. Congo


United Nations:
MONUC: United Nations Mission in the D.R.Congo

Government of Canada:
Consider information about Canada/Congo Relations posted on the Canadian International Development Agency's website and the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade

Various:
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Global Issues

Conduct further research as required.

Freedom of Speech threatened at the University of Ottawa?

Read Stephen Chase's article in the Globe and Mail, 23 March, 2010.

Chase writes about the failed attempt of American conservative pundit Ann Coulter to address a crowd at the University of Ottawa the evening of March 23rd. Protesters effectively shut down the venue, creating a situation which was considered 'unsafe' for the talk to continue.

Ezra Levant, a conservative activist, summarized the significance of the evening accordingly: "Isn't it ironic that it takes a provocative American coming to Canada to reveal the shortcomings in Canadian free speech?"

Thus: Should Ann Coulter have been allowed to address the audience at the University of Ottawa? Does the cancellation signify a dangerous threat to free speech in Canada as Mr. Levant argues?

Canadian Foreign Policy & "A full range of family planning options" -- the Debate Continues

The debate over whether the Government of Canada should be advocating for development assistance for mothers and children in lesser developed countries throughout the world remains a topic of Parliamentary debate. On the one side prominent Liberals argue that the Harper government must ensure funding to 'a full range of family planning options' to women -- including abortion. Critics of the Liberal position advance their motives are far from advancing maternal rights and conditions abroad; rather, the objective is to score political points here in Canada using a divisive issue, thereby weakening public support for the Conservative government.

As you follow this issue, observe (a) the manner in which Canadians debate the nature and expression of the country's collective values, and (b) the impact of such a values-debate on foreign policy decisions.

Thus: should the House of Commons have passed Bob Rae's motion "demanding that the government's maternal and child health initiative for the world's poorest regions include [a] 'full range of reproductive health options' ?"

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Resources:
Video: International Development Minister Bev Oda addressing the debate.

The following articles are found on Globeandmail.com.
Article 1 "Liberals Thwart Rae's Reproductive 'Options' Push"
Article 2 "Tories Oppose 'Anti-American' Motion on Family Planning"
Article 3 "Canadians Split on Funding Abortion"
Article 4 "Contraception & Mothers' Lives"
Article 5 "ABC's of Family Planning"
Article 6 "Liberals Press for Full Range of Family Planning Options in G8 Plan"
Article 7 "Liberals Weild Abortion as Wedge Issue"
Article 8 "Birth Control Won't Be in G8 Plan To Help Mothers, Tories Say"
Article 9 "Contraception A Part of Maternal Health Plan, Harper Says"
Article 10 "Maternal Mortality: Why Its a Crisis"
Article 11 "The Sad Truth About Harper & Maternal Health"

Idealist or Realist? -- A Political Analysis of Harper's G8 Agenda.

Stephen Harper travels to Switzerland this week to meet with leaders of the eight wealthiest democracies in the world -- the G8. He will be urging his colleagues around the table to commit political and economic resources to aid some of the world's most vulnerable -- the pregnant mothers and their children in some of the world's most under-developed societies.

On the surface, this looks to be a self-less act of compassion and generosity, made by a genuine and visionary political leader who is supported by an ethical, engaged and concerned population. In his own words, Harper's G8 agenda constitutes "substantive acts of human good will."

However, as the study of political realism demonstrates, we should not be so quick to accept this version of events.

According to the terms of realism, states are unitary and rational actors, concerned primarily with their own survival in an anarchic world.

Consider the diagnosis and prescription studied in Machiavelli's The Prince, and Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan.

If the lens of realism is applied, how might we see and interpret Harper's G8 announcements?

Read the following articles and write a 500 (approx) word argumentative blog response.
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Sources:

CBC News Video Clip: Stephen Harper in Davos, (January 28, 2010).

"PM looks to set tone in Davos Economic Forum," CBC News, (January 26, 2010)

"Stephen Harper wants G8 to honour past promises, not make new ones," Globe and Mail (January 28, 2010).

"Making the world safe for childbirth: editorial," Globe and Mail, (January 27, 2010).

Office of the Prime Minister, "Canada's G8 Priorities." (26 January, 2010.)

"Harper's Aid Spending Under the Microscope," Globe and Mail (January 26, 2010).

"With Plight of Mothers, Harper Seeks New G8 Course," Globe and Mail (January 27, 2010).

"If the PM is Serious About Maternal Mortality," Globe and Mail (January 30, 2010).

"Maternal Mortality: Why It's a Crisis," Globe and Mail (January 30, 2010).

"Aid Groups Pushed for Focus on Children at G8," Globe and Mail (January 27, 2010)

Pay for Peace?

As interested nation-states meet in London to discuss a way forward in Afghanistan, the proposal has been made to shift strategy; ideas now circulating advocate using economic incentives for the 'lower ranks' of the Taliban to drop their weapons.

What are the unstated assumptions behind this proposal? Is it something which ISAF and the I.R.A. should be doing?

Read the article in Britain's Independent newspaper January 27, 2010.

Doug Sanders of the Globe and Mail also reports. (29, January, 2010)

Watch the Globe and Mail's Talking to the Taliban online documentary

A Leader or Follower? What Makes An Effective Politician?

"In the end, confident and successful politicians lead, rather than simply follow, public opinion. They are not bound by prevailing social attitudes when devising policies, but help to shape them."

Read the January 25th article in Britain's Independent Newspaper to read the full argument.

a) To what extent do you agree with this assertion?
b) Can you develop a similar study with reference to politics in Canada? Use examples to support your position.

Negotiate Peace with Taliban? -- What Should Be Canada's Position?

Read the article in January 25th's edition of the Globe and Mail.

Consider the arguments for and against a negotiated settlement with the Taliban from
a) the realist perspective
b) the liberal idealist perspective

After 8 years of war, which perspective should Canada employ when considering this proposal?