The Liberals' Global Networks Strategy

[Evening Star]

Couldn't find a thread about this. Thoughts? I was actually surprised by how sensible and well-thought-out this seemed to me.

[M.Dancer]

Couldn't find a thread about this. Thoughts? I was actually surprised by how sensible and well-thought-out this seemed to me.

I still can't find a thread about it.

[Jack Weber]

Uh...For me have a comment I would have to actually know what it is you're talking about...

[Evening Star]

Uh...For me have a comment I would have to actually know what it is you're talking about...

This document that they released a couple months ago. I finally got around to reading it recently (tipped off by a post on this board actually): http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GKJP3CO8Vp4J:can150.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/canada_world_jun2010.pdf+liberal+global+network+strategy&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

[msj]

This document that they released a couple months ago. I finally got around to reading it recently (tipped off by a post on this board actually): http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GKJP3CO8Vp4J:can150.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/canada_world_jun2010.pdf+liberal+global+network+strategy&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

I suppose I will have to read it before giving an opinion.

Could it be better than the CPC strategy of setting up front groups on University campuses? Link to file.

Different networking styles?

Edited August 25, 2010 by msj

[Evening Star]

Anywho, M. Dancer raises a valid point, yes. So to elaborate, the proposals in the document strike me as a good way to embrace and benefit from a globalized economy while still promoting liberal (as distinct from social democratic) values. Highlights for me include:

- The recognition of China's and India's importance and eagerness to develop partnerships in economic as well as technological, cultural, and environmental areas. At least in the case of India, this seems to be a bit overdue if anything.

- The eagerness to renew aid to Africa, focusing on projects such as microfinance and private sector growth

- Making empowerment of women in the developing world a priority

- The idea of developing an academic centre of excellence in international conflict resolution

- The idea of Canada Global Scholarships (although no party really seems to be tackling the real crisis issues facing higher education as it is)

- Recognition of the importance of our cultural exports

[Shady]

Could it be better than the CPC strategy of setting up front groups on University campuses? Link to file.

Perhaps if conservative groups weren't being banned from campus, a need wouldn't exist. Cough...pro-life groups...cough.

[Remiel]

Perhaps if conservative groups weren't being banned from campus, a need wouldn't exist. Cough...pro-life groups...cough.

Do not confuse conservative with Conservative. And as for pro-life groups being banned: perhaps they would not find themselves persona non grata if they actually bothered to follow the rules on campus. You know, the same ones all the other groups follow, including the pro-choice?

[Keepitsimple]

Much of this was covered when the policies were announced. Nicky was kind enough to start a thread. Here's a link:

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=16573&st=0&p=550583&fromsearch=1entry550583

[fellowtraveller]

Anywho, M. Dancer raises a valid point, yes. So to elaborate, the proposals in the document strike me as a good way to embrace and benefit from a globalized economy while still promoting liberal (as distinct from social democratic) values. Highlights for me include:

- The recognition of China's and India's importance and eagerness to develop partnerships in economic as well as technological, cultural, and environmental areas. At least in the case of India, this seems to be a bit overdue if anything.

- The eagerness to renew aid to Africa, focusing on projects such as microfinance and private sector growth

- Making empowerment of women in the developing world a priority

- The idea of developing an academic centre of excellence in international conflict resolution

- The idea of Canada Global Scholarships (although no party really seems to be tackling the real crisis issues facing higher education as it is)

- Recognition of the importance of our cultural exports

I fail to see what is new or even mildly interesting in this stuff and the rest of the document, which was clearly written by a committee of consultants and corporate communications hacks.

[kimmy]

Do not confuse conservative with Conservative. And as for pro-life groups being banned: perhaps they would not find themselves persona non grata if they actually bothered to follow the rules on campus. You know, the same ones all the other groups follow, including the pro-choice?

In many cases the only rule that pro-life groups are breaking is being pro-life.

-k

[Shady]

In many cases the only rule that pro-life groups are breaking is being pro-life.

-k

Exactly. If only they were Muslim. They'd be welcomed with open arms.

[ToadBrother]

- The idea of developing an academic centre of excellence in international conflict resolution

Why of course! Why didn't anybody ever think of this before? We'll get a conflict resolution think tank to solve all the international problems.

[nicky10013]

Why of course! Why didn't anybody ever think of this before? We'll get a conflict resolution think tank to solve all the international problems.

The idea isn't as absurd as you'd like to make it out to be. The University of Toronto has the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Graduates of the programme are in high demand not only in the international arena but in corporate life for mediation of all types of problems.

[ToadBrother]

The idea isn't as absurd as you'd like to make it out to be. The University of Toronto has the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Graduates of the programme are in high demand not only in the international arena but in corporate life for mediation of all types of problems.

And how many international disputes have they solved?

[Shwa]

Why of course! Why didn't anybody ever think of this before? We'll get a conflict resolution think tank to solve all the international problems.

Isn't that what bars are for?

[nicky10013]

And how many international disputes have they solved?

I don't think solving international crises is the purpose of the Trudeau Centre, nor, of the policy proposal. There is a list of alumni on their website.

Colleen Malone has worked in the development, peacebuilding and humanitarian fields for colleenthe past 11 years. Colleen completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in the Peace and Conflict Studies program and her Master's degree in conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, USA. She is a mediator certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Colleen began her career with the Canadian International Development Agency in Sri Lanka, where she focused on human rights and peacebuilding programs. She later worked for several NGOs in the field of human rights and conflict resolution, working as the Projects and Operations Director for the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy in Washington, DC, for example. Returning to Sri Lanka to work for CARE International, Colleen was a director of several projects that focused on integrating peacebuilding into development initiatives.

She returned to Canada to run her own consulting practice. She has designed a peacebuilding communication skills curriculum for World Vision Asia Pacific and has developed a peacebuilding glossary for development workers in conflict zones.

Colleen is currently the Program Manager of the Child Protection in Emergencies Unit of Save the Children Canada. This unit is currently funding or implementing about 13 emergency response projects around the world, including a large drought-relief program in Kenya, child education interventions in Sudan and Pakistan, flood relief in Ethiopia, and a range of other programs aimed at assisting children affected by conflict and disaster.

[Evening Star]

Thanks for the link to the earlier thread.

First off, I agree with Nicky about the academic centre on conflict resolution. The point of a research centre is to build knowledge and develop policy ideas. Even Conservative policy is heavily influenced by academic think tanks.

- The recognition of China's and India's importance and eagerness to develop partnerships in economic as well as technological, cultural, and environmental areas. At least in the case of India, this seems to be a bit overdue if anything.

- The eagerness to renew aid to Africa, focusing on projects such as microfinance and private sector growth

- Making empowerment of women in the developing world a priority

- The idea of developing an academic centre of excellence in international conflict resolution

- The idea of Canada Global Scholarships (although no party really seems to be tackling the real crisis issues facing higher education as it is)

- Recognition of the importance of our cultural exports

I fail to see what is new or even mildly interesting in this stuff and the rest of the document, which was clearly written by a committee of consultants and corporate communications hacks.

I don't claim to be an IR expert but a number of these proposals suggest a change in policy (making them 'new'?). Even John Ivison claimed in the critical National Post piece that was linked to in the earlier thread that "The Liberals would put Africa back to the top of the list of international aid priorities. This seems to be a more sensible idea than the Harper government’s obsession with Latin America." So this would be a change. The approach that they suggest taking with Africa definitely sounds worthwhile to me.

As for India, Canada has never had the close ties that we should considering that it is a) the world's largest democracy, with a somewhat comparable social democratic streak, a Commonwealth nation, c) a major source of immigration to Canada, and d) a highly creative and advanced culture with a burgeoning economy. I have to hope that was the Liberals are proposing here will go further than what the Conservatives have done so far.

The Conservatives have shown near-total disinterest in promoting Canadian culture and I have to believe this would shift to outright 'principled' opposition to the idea were they to ever gain a majority. Canada Global Scholarships are also an excellent idea that would encourage immigration by bright and talented young people and also strengthen our universities.

[Evening Star]

Ha, that was supposed to be a letter "b" followed by ")", not an emoticon.

[fellowtraveller]

The idea isn't as absurd as you'd like to make it out to be. The University of Toronto has the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Graduates of the programme are in high demand not only in the international arena but in corporate life for mediation of all types of problems.

Imagine seeing the words Trudeau and corporate coexisting quietly in the same paragraph. It is a bit scary.

All the high level negotiating corporations do is done by lawyers and execs.

It would be extremely rare for a company to cede anything binding that involved money to an outsider. And if it doesn't involve money and lots of it, it won't matter in the corner offices.

Please try again.

[nicky10013]

Global Networks Strategy is now an intro level course at least at the University of Toronto and I would imagine at most other Universities for people entering political science.

Global Networks Strategies in lehmans terms is about further intergrating into the global economy and international institutions. The more coordinated we are with different states on a multitude of different issues, the more information we'll recieve and the better Canada will be able to cope with both domestic and international crises. It also has the benefit of creating a more competitive domestic society; one that will be able to compete with global companies in a global economy. The benefits of further trade not just on an economic level but a cultural level, more than anything else we know right now, spurs democratic growth both at home and abroad.

[nicky10013]

Imagine seeing the words Trudeau and corporate coexisting quietly in the same paragraph. It is a bit scary.

All the high level negotiating corporations do is done by lawyers and execs.

It would be extremely rare for a company to cede anything binding that involved money to an outsider. And if it doesn't involve money and lots of it, it won't matter in the corner offices.

Please try again.

Well, firstly, this is all based on assumptions. Secondly, when did I ever say that these people were negotiating on behalf of a corporation? I said they were mediators, which by definition have to be in the middle of the negotiation between said lawyers. So really, is it me who should try again?

[Remiel]

In many cases the only rule that pro-life groups are breaking is being pro-life.

-k

Well, I am not in support of the banning of groups for the mere fact of being pro-life, but I do not hold much sympathy for some of those that have banned for specific actions.

[Bryan]

Well, I am not in support of the banning of groups for the mere fact of being pro-life, but I do not hold much sympathy for some of those that have banned for specific actions.

Kimmy's right though. The vast majority of socially conservative groups are banned specifically because they are a socially conservative group. Even the so-called "specific actions" are usually the result of deliberate baiting by left-wing activist groups, such as joining the conservative group, being nothing but disruptive, then filing a complaint when they are asked to leave.

[bloodyminded]

Kimmy's right though. The vast majority of socially conservative groups are banned specifically because they are a socially conservative group. Even the so-called "specific actions" are usually the result of deliberate baiting by left-wing activist groups, such as joining the conservative group, being nothing but disruptive, then filing a complaint when they are asked to leave.

And if it's a "vast majority" you doubtless have a "vast" number of citations. If you wouldn't mind.

(One will not count, of course.)