1.1) The gap between perception and reality of Canada's place in the world is growing.

Canadians believe our country is a leader in the global community. What many Canadians do not recognize is that our perceptions of our selves as global peacekeepers, bridge-builders and advocates for the poor is far out of proportion with the reality of our actions in the world.

By some accounts, Canada's influence in the world is eroding. Our percentage of funds to overseas development assistance is lower than it has been in decades. We stand 34th on the list of contributors to peacebuilding operations and our position on the human development index has slipped from first to sixth.

With the exception of leadership on a few notable human security initiatives (the creation of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, the ratification of the International Landmines Treaty, the set-up of the International Criminal Court), Canada has shown little demonstrable leadership on international issues since 1992. As a nation that prides itself on its global image, this withdrawal from playing an active leadership role in international affairs is puzzling and concerning for many Canadians.

1.2) There is a need to increase the number of Canadians who think and care about international policy

International issues affect every aspect of our lives (e.g. the price of our food, the cost to heat our home, the quality of the air we breathe, or the type of fabric we wear). Global trends affect domestic policy decisions and, in turn, domestic policy affects Canada's actions internationally. Despite the pivotal role Canadian international policy plays in our daily lives, very few Canadians know or understand international policy. Consequently, international policy issues barely appear on the journalistic radar screens during election campaigns.

There are some signs that this is changing. The public's concern with Afghanistan, the Middle East, climate change and Canada's relationship to the US have some pundits speculating that international policy will play an important role in the next election.

While this may or may not be the case, the fact that so few Canadians understand or discuss international policy issues is a concern, particularly since one of the key jurisdictional responsibilities of our federal government is to set foreign policy and manage our international affairs.

1.3) Discussions about international policy are becoming increasingly polarized.

Canadian international policy is a complex and constantly evolving field. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of trends that are impinging on Canada's ability to act domestically and internationally (e.g. globalization, climate change, the rise of religious fundamentalism, economic protectionism, growing disparities between rich and poor, human rights, HIV/AIDS, nuclear proliferation, small arms trade, refugees, migrant labour, decline in adherence to international norms - just to name a few). But rather than trying to understand these complexities, some Canadians find it easier to rely on simple dichotomous - or black and white - reasoning to bolster their international policy positions. Slogans like "War on Terror", "No to APEC", "Human Rights over Trade", "US out of Canada", "Taliban-lovers" are expressions of this dichotomous reasoning and serve to fuel the polarization of international policy discussions.

Historically, Canadians have favoured a more balanced approach to decision-making based on reasoned dialogue. But rarely have Canadians been engaged in a dialogue about Canada's position in the world. With the exception of a few consultations led by Foreign Affairs as part of their policy review processes, authentic citizens' dialogues about international policy are few and far between.

1.4) There are competing visions about Canada's role in the world that deserve careful consideration.

There are a number of important books and articles that have recently been published that outline visions for Canada's place in the world. These visions are compelling and address different tensions in Canada's foreign relations: Some emphasize Canadian values, while others focus on Canadian interests. Some argue for a stronger position for the provinces and especially Quebec in setting international policy, particularly in areas related to culture and education. Some advance Canada's strategic niche as a small nation among large nations; others suggest that Canada's niche should be as a leader among small nations. In some books, the authors argue that Canada should focus on global security issues and strengthen Canada's contributions to the UN and NATO's military missions. In others, the emphasis is on strengthening Canada's diplomatic efforts and allocating greater resources to building human-centered development as the means of addressing global security. Similarly, Canada's relationship to multilateral institutions and our relationship to the United States, which comprises over 80% of our international trade, are analyzed, debated and discussed.

The discussion among Canadian international policy scholars is broad and varied. Yet as rich and informed as it might be, it rarely permeates beyond the specialized journals and academic roundtables to reach a broader Canadian public.

1.5) Our perceptions of ourselves as a nation are evolving

Among the defining characteristics of a nation state are its people and its territory. With globalization and the increase in migration, our notions of nation states are changing. While Canada may have a clear territorial identity over which it exercises its control, can the same be said of its people?

How does Canada manage a population who have multiple alliances, who are transnational in their businesses and their connections and who are pluralistic in their world-view? Our immigration, our connectivity through the Internet and our trade across borders have created an openness in our country. This openness has created both opportunities and challenges for Canada. How do we manage these challenges and leverage these opportunities? How do we advance a vision for our nation that embraces these realities?

1.6) Our notions of federalism are evolving

Canada is a country that was founded by two nations: French and English. It is also a country that was created on the lands of aboriginal people and it has been populated and developed by immigrants and refugees.

Since 1867, our notions of federalism have been evolving. The balance of power between provinces and the federal government has been shifting and the voices of aboriginal people have been getting stronger and more organized. Many have seen Canada as a strong working federation and a model for other countries. Others have questioned the version of federalism that is being projected in the international arena. How do we reflect a model of Canadian federalism that recognizes the complexities and challenges of our system? How do we allow the voices of minorities into the debate about Canada's place in the world in a manner that respects their historical experiences, their values, their assets and their interests?

1.7) The actors shaping our international policy are shifting

International policy is no longer the purview of just our federal government. There are a myriad of actors - businesses, non-profit organizations, provincial departments, academic institutions, and citizen groups - that are advancing Canada's position and policies in the international arena. Each brings an expertise, a network of relationships and a brand or identity to their international affairs. While it would be impossible to map all of these Canadian actors, it is worth noting some of them to give a sense of the scope and importance of their influence in advancing Canada's position in the world:

→ Canada houses several international institutions that are considered leaders in their field including: the International Development Research Council, Rights and Democracy, The International Institute for Sustainable Development, the International Institute for Sustainable Cities, the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Justice Policy. Each of these institutions has networks of partners and programmes within developing countries and each leverages their expertise and connections within multilateral processes.

→ Provincial Crown Corporations that regulate financial institutions, insurance companies, pension funds and assessments have been providing advisory support for years to other jurisdictions. Some of the Canadians leaders within these institutions have also been involved in international norm-setting processes.

→ Independent foundations, social entrepreneurs, social investors and wealthy philanthropists are playing an increasingly important role in identifying the priorities for international action through their funding and investments.

→ Municipal governments have led twinning projects with countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean for years. Increasingly Canada is seen as a global hub for the sustainable cities movement.

→ The science and technology community represented in hospitals, international institutions, universities, public agencies and in the research and development arms of corporations is a global community. It builds on international scholarship and sows the seeds for economic and social innovation.

→ Canada's history of cooperative development has been a model for many countries - movements like the credit union movement, Coady, Desjardins, and the Canadian Cooperative Association have been instrumental in supporting the growth of cooperatives internationally.

→ Most Canadian academic and educational institutions have gone global. Canada is the host to thousands of international students at the primary, secondary and post-secondary levels. In turn, Canadian colleges and universities are offering programmes in other countries, often in partnership with overseas universities.

→ The Canadian labour movement has strong international ties through its international affiliates, the International Labour Organization and solidarity networks. Many unions raise funds through regular dues to support programmes for workers in developing countries.

→ There are hundreds of non-governmental organizations with extensive programme, policy, research and funding partnerships and networks overseas. These are often the organizations at the front line of disaster recovery, humanitarian relief, environmental advocacy, peacebuilding and long-term sustainable development.

→ Canadian corporations, businesses and their professional networks and associations have deep connections globally through their investments, operations, staffing, and ownership structures.

→ Ethnocultural and diaspora communities have direct ties to their countries of origin. These ties can be business, political, familial, social or cultural.

→ Sports teams are an important link between Canada and the world.

→ Music, performing arts, theatre, film and other cultural institutions and agencies look globally for investors, collaborators and audiences.

→ Technology is an enabling tool for many different sectors of Canadian society to work internationally. Youth, for example, do not tend to be bound by national boundaries but use technology to socialize and organize more horizontally. Social networking phenomena like Facebook, YouTube and MySpace create virtual communities that are global in scope. Cellular technology and text messaging have also increased the connectivity of Canadians internationally.

→ Media is global in scope. The Internet and the emergence of multinational media conglomerates have created a fragmented information environment.

As a consequence of all of these citizens and non-state actors working globally, the nation state, represented by our federal government, does not play the same central role in framing our international identity or setting our international policy. Similarly state- based international institutions do not control the same amount of traffic as they once did, and consequently their utility and ability to exercise authority is being challenged.

1.8) The nature of government decision-making is changing

Government is changing and our process for decision-making is changing. As noted in 1.7, non-state actors (e.g. business, civil society organizations, young people, philanthropists) do not wait for government to act - they are leaders in advancing their own versions of social and economic change. Government capacity for research and policy is eroding and the locus for federal decision-making is increasingly centered in the Privy Council Office, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Finance.

Against this backdrop, where do citizens fit? If government is shrinking and the manner in which policy is made is shifting, what new democratic processes need to be created to ensure that citizens have a voice? What can we learn from the existing scholarship on direct democracy and citizen engagement in public policy? What new innovations can we develop to ensure that the democratic voice of Canadian citizens is not lost through the shifts in government decision-making?