Civic or Civil? What Kind of Citizens Are We?
In discussions about political science, it is possible to make the distinction between civil citizenship and civic citizenship.
Politics
One Small Step: Women’s Rights and the Citizenship Act
The issue of gender equality in Canada isn’t new. Women have been fighting for their rights since well before Canada was a country.
The Quest to Give Voting Rights to Permanent Residents
In Canada, provincial and territorial governments determine who can vote in municipal elections, and they all currently have laws restricting that right to Canadian citizens.
What is Citizenship?
What it means to be a citizen has changed dramatically since the concept first appeared in ancient Greece.
Securing the World From War: Examining the UN Security Council
There have been no outright wars between the world’s major powers since WWI. It’s this fact that causes some to say the UN Security Council has successfully served its purpose.
Guardians of Global Peace: Is Peacekeeping Still Relevant?
Given the United Nations mandate to maintain international peace and security, the question of the relevance of peacekeeping missions seems ironic.
Human Rights: Canada’s Successes Shouldn’t Overshadow its Failures
Many of us likely take basic universal human rights for granted. Yet in a legal sense, human rights have existed for less than 75 years.
Canada Speaks Softly But Persuasively: Notable Canadian Ambassadors
Canada’s ambassador to the UN is frequently seen as the face of Canadian diplomacy, who often brings his or her personal style and values to the role.
Model UN and the Art of Diplomacy
The Model UN Club found me in 2013 in the shape of two very keen Grade 9 girls making a pitch to me at lunch about the need for more women in politics.
Inventing Global Cooperation: A Brief History of the United Nations
Getting students to understand the role the UN plays in the world is one step. Teaching its history and the role that Canada has played can be a much more complicated endeavour.