Preface - Canada's International Cultural Relations: Key To Canada's Role In The World

This is a monograph about Canada’s international cultural relations. It is concerned with four matter of crucial importance to Canada, Canadians and Canadian development, namely the context, substance, cultivation and future of Canada’s relations with other countries in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to each of these matters.

For purposes of the monograph, Canada’s international cultural relations are defined as “all relations Canada and Canadians have with other countries.” While this represents a significant departure from the present practice of defining the country’s international cultural relations in far less expansive terms, it is consistent with the comprehensive meaning culture is acquiring in the modern world, as well as with the fact that it is impossible to conduct international relations in any area without profound cultural implications and consequences. Moreover, it is consistent with the need to make projection of Canadian culture abroad in all its diverse aspects and manifestations the centrepiece and principal preoccupation of Canadian foreign policy and Canada’s external development in the future.

When Canada’s international cultural relations are defined in this all-inclusive way, they become the means whereby Canada and Canadians can make their full contribution to the realization of a better country and a better world. In order to do this, the country and its citizenry will have to place concern for people and human welfare and well-being at the core of the country’s relations with other countries, as well as play a leadership and exemplary role in the world. This is necessary in order to contribute to the realization of a system of international relations based on a more equitable and effective set of principles, policies, priorities, procedures and practices.

Like other monographs in the World Culture Project series, the present monograph is intended to be illustrative and exploratory rather than authoritative and definitive in nature. Its purpose is to take “a cultural approach” to Canada’s international relations and put enough flesh on this approach so that it can stand alongside other approaches as a potential guide to political, governmental, corporate and educational action in the future.

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Canadian Advisory Council as well as to Jill Humphries for their valuable contribution to this monograph. While recognizing these contributions, I nevertheless accept responsibility for everything contained in the text.