Dr Tomasz Soroka (tomasz.soroka@uj.edu.pl)
CANADA IN THE 21ST-CENTURY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The course will introduce students to the basic issues relating to the history, evolution
and above all the practice and operation of the contemporary Canadian foreign policy. The
students will become familiar with the actual place and role of Canada in international
relations after the Cold War. The analysis will embrace the whole spectrum of Canadian
international activities including Canada’s membership, role and attitudes to selected
international organizations (incl. UN, G8 and G20, NATO, NAFTA, EU, Commonwealth of
Nations, APEC and Trans-Pacific Partnership, Arctic Council) and Canadian relations with
selected countries. During the course the effectiveness of Canada’s policy in ensuring the
country’s important place in the world will be examined. The aim of the series of lectures is
also to acquaint students with material and immaterial factors and determinants defining
Canada’s present position on the international forum, including inter alia political, military,
and economic issues as well as energy and management of natural resources, ecology, cultural
or public diplomacy.
DETAILED LIST OF TOPICS:
1. Introduction
2. Canadian foreign policy – Pre-WW2 history and evolution (From colonial
dependency to independent foreign policy)
 R. Bothwell, Foreign Affairs a Hundred Years On [in:] Canada Among Nations 2008:

100 Years of Canadian Foreign Policy. R. Bothwell, J. Daudelin (eds.), Montreal:
McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2009, pp. 19-34 (history of Canadian foreign
policy).
Nossal K.R., The Politics of Canadian Foreign Policy, Scarborough: Prentice Hall
Canada, 1997, pp. 138-65 (evolution of dominant ideas in Canadian foreign policy)
3. Canadian foreign policy – Post-WW2 history and evolution (Canada in the Cold War,
Canadian multilateralism, Post-Cold War diplomacy / From a junior ally to specialized
power / Present Canadian priorities)
 Bumsted J.M., The Peoples of Canada: A Post-Confederation History, Don Mills:


Oxford University Press, 2004, pp. 575-93; 599-601 (postwar evolution of Canadian
foreign relations)
J.M. Welsh, Canada and the World: Beyond Middle Power [in:] The Oxford
handbook of Canadian politics, J.C. Courtney, D.E. Smith (eds.), New York : Oxford
University Press, 2010, pp. 361-77 (Canada as a middle power)
D. Crane, Canada’s Global Choices: Do We Embrace the New World Order or Stick
with Washington?, “Literary Review of Canada”, March 2009, vol. 17, no.2, pp. 2022.
4. Administration and institutional framework (DFAIT, PMO, PCO, CIDA; federalism
and foreign relations)
 G, Donaghy, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade 1909-2009.



DFAIT Makes Its Centennial, “Canadian Parliamentary Review”, winter 2009, pp. 812.
I. Smillie, Foreign Aid and Canadian Purpose: Influence and Policy in Canada’s
International and Development Assistance [in:] Canada Among Nations…, pp. 183205 (CIDA’s history and achievements)
Nossal K.R., The Politics of Canadian Foreign Policy, pp. 292-310 (Canadian
provinces as international actors)
C. Kukucha, Dismembering Canada? Stephen Harper and the Foreign Relations of
Canadian Provinces, “Review of Constitutional Studies”, 2009, vol. 14, issue 1, pp.
21-52.
5. Post-colonial bonds (Canada and the Commonwealth of Nations / la Francophonie /
Canada-Caribbean relations / Relations with UK and France





X. Rebour, Commonwealth and Francophonie: From Colonial Legacy to Soft
Power?, Royal College of Defence Studies, 2009 (Commonwealth and Francophonie
compared)
J. Massie, A Special Relationship? The Importance of France in Canadian Foreign
Policy [in:] Canada Among Nations…, pp. 235-61.
Y. Engler, Canada in the Caribbeam: A Hidden History, Rabble.ca, 5 May 2009 http://rabble.ca/news/2009/05/canada-caribbean-hidden-history
‘Commonwealth’, Canadian Encyclopedia http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/commonwealth
‘Canada and the Commonwealth’, DFAIT http://www.international.gc.ca/commonwealth/index.aspx?view=d
6. Canada and global political and economic international organizations (UN, G8 / G20,
OECD)




Y. Fortier, Canada and the United Nations: A Half Century Partnership, DFAIT, 6
March 1996 http://www.international.gc.ca/odskelton/yvesfortier.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
L. Berthiaume, Analysis: Can Canada fix the UN, and should it even try?, “National
Post”, 2 July 2012, http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/02/analysis-can-canada-fixthe-un-and-should-it-even-try/
G. Smith, P. Heap, Canada, the G8, And the G20: A Canadian Approach to Shaping
Global Governance in a Shifting International Environment, The School of Public
Policy, University of Calgary, 2010.
“Canada and the OECD, 50 years of progress - OECD Observer special focus”,
OECD: June 2011 http://www.oecd.org/canada/canadaandtheoecd50yearsofprogressoecdobserverspecialfocus.htm
7. Canada- U.S. relations : close cooperation vs. controversies (Security / defense,
border, trade and investment, energy)
8. -----------------------------------------------




S. Brooks, Canada-United States Relations [in:] The Oxford handbook…, pp. 379-94.
D. Barry, D. Bratt, Defense Against Help: Explaining Canada-U.S. Security Relations,
“American Review of Canadian Studies”, Spring 2008, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 63-89.
B. Bow, Anti-Americanism in Canada, Before and After Iraq, American Review of
Canadian Studies, Autumn 2008, vol. 38, no. 3 pp. 341-59.
F.O. Hampson, Negotiating with Uncle Sam, “International Journal”, Spring 2010, pp.
303-19.
J. Ackleson, From “Thin” to “Thick” (and Back Again?): The Politics and Policies of
the Contemporary US–Canada Border, “American Review of Canadian Studies”,
Vol. 39, No. 4, December 2009, pp. 336–351.
9. Canada-Asia relations (APEC, ASEAN, Trans-Pacific Partnership, immigration policy
/ Relations with China, Japan, India, Middle East)





W. Jiang, Seeking a Strategic Vision for Canada-China Relations, “International
Journal”, Autumn 2009, pp. 891-909.
R. Touhkey, Canada and India at 60, “International Journal”, Autumn 2007, pp. 73352.
C. McMillan, The maple leaf and the chrysanthemum: Canada and Japan: 80 years
and counting, “International Journal”, Autumn 2009, pp. 1075-91.
R. Stubbs, M. Willliams, The poor cousin? Canada-ASEAN relations, “International
Journal”, Autumn 2009, pp. 927-39.
P. Evans, Canada and Asia Pacific’s track-two diplomacy, “International Journal”,
Autumn 2009, pp. 1027-38.
10. Canadian transatlantic relations (Canada and the EU, CETA / Relations with Poland,
Russia)



C. Deblock, M. Rioux, From Economic Dialogue to CETA, “International Journal”,
Winter 2010-11, pp. 39-56.
Embassy of Poland in Ottawa - http://www.ottawa.msz.gov.pl
Navy spy scandal a dilemma for Canada-Russia relations, CBC, 22 May 2012 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/22/pol-cp-delisle-navy-spy-russia.html
11. Canadian relations with Latin America (OAS, IADB, bilateral relations with major
partners)



V. Torres, Canada in the Americas: The Ebbs and Flows of Assuming a Significant
Role [in:] Brazil and Canada in the Americas, R. Barbosa (ed.), Halifax: Saint Mary’s
University, 2007.
Y. Shamsie, R. Grinspun, Missed Opportunity: Canada's Re-engagement with Latin.
America and the Caribbean, “Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean
Studies”, Vol. 35, No. 69 (2010), pp. 171-99.
R. Rodriguez, Canada's policy towards Latin America: perceptions from the south,
“Interfaces Brasil/Canada”, 2006, no. 6, pp. 94-108.
12. Canadian policies towards Circumpolar World (Sovereignty in the Arctic, Arctic
Council, Northern Strategy, Northwest Passage)



F. Perreault, The Arctic Linked to the Emerging Dominant Ideas in Canada’s Foreign
and Defence Policies, “Northern Review”, vol. 33, Spring 2011, pp. 47-67.
J. Plouffe, Canada’s ‘Tous Azimuts’ Arctic Foreign Policy, “Northern Review”, vol.
33, Spring 2011, pp. 69-94.
M. Byers, Cold Peace: Arctic cooperation and Canadian foreign policy,
“International Journal”, Autumn 2010, pp. 899-912.
13. Human rights in Canada’s foreign policy (Indigenous affairs, minority rights, LGBT
rights, gender equality)



N. Thede, Human Rights and Democracy: Issues for Canadian Policy in Democracy
Promotion, “IRPP Policy Matters”, May 2005, vol. 6, no. 3.
D. Clement et al., The Evolution of Human Rights in Canada, Ottawa: Canadian
Human Rights Commission, 2012.
Government of Canada Policy for CIDA on Human Rights, Democratization, and
Good Governance, Gatineau: Canadian International Development Agency, 1996 .
14. Energy, environment in Canadian foreign policy (Energy supply and management
system, Kyoto protocol, oilsands and shale gas)


D. Bratt, Tools and Levers: Energy as an Instrument of Canadian Foreign Policy [in:]
Canada Among Nations…, pp. 209-27.
S. Smallman, Canada’s Oil Sands, Pipelines and Atomic Bombs, Introduction to
Global Studies, 11 Dec 2011 - http://introtoglobalstudies.com/2011/12/canadas-oilsands-pipelines-and-atomic-bombs/
15. Students’ presentations / Canada in the system of international security
Internet sources:
 Foreign
Affairs
and
International
Trade
Canada
(DFAIT)
http://www.international.gc.ca
 Embassy: Canadian Foreign Policy Newspaper - http://embassymag.ca/
 The Canadian Encyclopedia - http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com
 Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute (CDFAI) - http://www.cdfai.org
 Embassy of Poland in Ottawa - http://www.ottawa.msz.gov.pl
-
Requirements: in order to complete a course students must:
 an exam test taken after the completion of the series of lectures
 participate in class regularly (2 absences allowed)
 optionally, students can prepare a presentation (individually or in groups of 2-3
students) on a selected topic accepted by the teacher. Topics should be decided by
April 15th, 2013. Alternatively, reading assignments or essays are possible. Additional
task increases the final result of the test by 25%.