Support for democratic development: sharing Canada’s elections expertise [Abroad]

ID:	HARP-178
Title:	Support for democratic development: sharing Canada’s elections expertise [Abroad]
Source:	International Journal , v.53(2) Spr’98 pg 221-232
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Dispute Resolution Organ:
Year:	1998
Pages:	0
Author(s):
Keywords:	Canada, democracy, human rights, international trade, politics, peace, civil and political rights
Abstract:	Elections Canada’s international activities are undertaken in response to requests from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and various international organizations, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth, and la Francophonie. Their context is thus defined initially by the framework of Canadian foreign policy, in particular support for democratic development and promotion of human rights. Among the factors which enable Canada to play this role is a reputation as a liberal democracy and an open industrialized society where citizens enjoy a high quality of life and protection of their human and democratic rights. Canada’s past or, more precisely, its lack of an imperial past — is another facilitating factor. With no status as a former colonial power or as a superpower, it is easier for others to see Canada as a trusted partner. A leadership role in the development of peacekeeping, which has now given way to leadership in peace-building, adds to this standing. Complementing these qualities are Canada’s reputation for fairness, through respect for and observance of rules, and its recognized capacity for managing diversity.
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