MGS C44 Debate 2014

A Class Debate for students taught by Prof Tim Richardson

Listed is a selection of topics to guide discussion; we may or may not stick to the list depending on the backgrounds and interests of the students each particular year.
 
The Global Political Environment
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Pro
Con
Globalization is good - besides, we can't go backwards in time anyway so might as well be as competitive as possible and reap the rewards

read David Crane's 2006 Dec 31 article
"Don't discount the positive side of globalization"
 www.thestar.com/article/166599

Globalization is bad, it forces small and medium sized producers to compete on an unequal footing with giant producers in parts of the world were the "means of production" cost much less.

read David Crane's 2007 Jan 7th article
"Globalization column touched a raw nerve"
 www.thestar.com/article/168600

 

WTO is FAIR

We need some rules to trade by, otherwise we have anarchy

suggested by Farrah Y June 2009

WTO is NOT FAIR

a website discussing "CONS" found by Farrah
 www.speakeasy.org/~peterc/wtow/

suggested by Farrah Y June 2009

.b
The Political Environment - our international relations
.
 
Pro
Con
Canada-U.S.
Canada should develop closer ties with the U.S.

see  www.florida11.com (link down in 2011) petition to make Florida the 11th province !!

Canada-U.S.
Canada should move away from closer ties with the U.S. and develop stronger ties with other countries.

The Asia Pacific Foundation said in a 2000 report that Canada should develop closer ties with Japan instead of exploring a common currency with the U.S.
 asiapacific.ca/about/pressreleases/commerce.cfm

 

Canada-China.
Canada should develop closer ties with China

"There is about one million Chinese in Canada" 
http://english.people.com.cn/200403/01/eng20040301_136199.shtml
this should give us a huge advantage in developing business in China

China will soon be the largest exporter to the U.S.
 

Canada-China.

Canada should move away from closer ties with China and develop stronger ties with other countries such as South Korea and India (we already have close ties with Japan)

China refuses to stop copying software, music and movies
some Chinese exports of food & drugs are unsafe due to competitive pressure to cut quality.  msnbc.msn.com/id/18911849/
Chinese human rights are a joke

 

Canada-India
Canada should develop closer ties with India

India and Canada share a common heritage in the British Commonwealth

DFAIT on India
 http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/india-in.....

 

Canada-India

India's retail distribution system is very fragmented
infrastructure problems
India's regional and local governments have "barriers" to doing business in a Western style

environment problems in India

Global Conflict
Canada should completely stay out of the affairs of other countries

- some suggest we should instead focus on the problems in Canada, eg . homeless people, native issues, pollution in Canada, natural resources

 

Global Conflict
Canada should continue to be involved in peacekeeping and peacemaking, and diplomatic activities in conflict regions
Global Conflict effecting international trade - negotiate YES
"we should open communication with enemies because there are new markets and conflict hurts international business, it’s better to be allies then enemies"
suggested by Ritesh K June 2009
Global Conflict effecting international trade - negotiate NO
Canada should not negotiate with "enemies" or terrorist regimes. "we shouldn't negotiate with our enemies because
it may harm current relations with our international trading partners"
suggested by Ritesh K June 2009
.
The Geographic Environment
.
Pro
Con
Global Warming - don't believe it

Earthlings will be able to use the technological progresses of the past few years to handle any extremes in the geographic/weather environment - besides, the world is not in such bad shape as some people believe.

"environmental organizations are fomenting false fears in order to promote agendas and raise money"
Dr. Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park

"More Global Warming False Alarms"
 canadafreepress.com/2006/avery121606.htm

Heh bro, where's my flo?

 www.ngo.grida.no/wwfap/polarbears/
online polar bear tracker 
(they have radio collars)

Extremes in the geographic/weather environment are getting worse because of our damage to the planet and we need to cut back in damage to the land, air and water..
 extinct.wwf.org.uk/species/polarbear.htm

 witiger.com/internationalbusiness/geographicenvironment.htm

,,
The Technological Environment
.,,
Pro
Con
future technologies will improve lifestyles and save the planet by using advanced energy resources and greatly facilitate our personal relationships future technologies will consume all our renewal resources and energy and our lifestyle will be increasingly consumed with time wasting devices that reduce personal contact and leave no time for face2face personal relationships

 
 
The Social-Cultural Environment
.
Pro
Con
Multi-culturalism and diversity are great strengths in the Canadian social-cultural environment and should be celebrated.

the federal government website
"Canadian Diversity: Respecting our Differences"
which lists all the "politically correct" reasons for diversity
 www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ai-ia/rir-iro/gbll/divers/index-eng.cfm

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev "If we speak about the failure of multiculturalism, then the destruction of traditions could follow; this is a dangerous thing.."
 http://en.rian.ru/russia/20110211/162557773.html

"the dogma of diversity has only raised ghettos" said Tarek Fatah (co-founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress). We need to celebrate what we have in common, not emphasize our differences otherwise we can't be a unified country trying to do things for the greater majority.

Feb 2011 President of France declared multiculturalism a failure

Feb 2011 Prime Minister of England "state multiculturalism has failed"
 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12371994 

Oct 2010 German Chancellor Angela Merkel "policy of multiculturalism is on the rocks"
 

WTGR's personal opinions about diversity
 witiger.com/marketing/scancultureDiversity2.jpg

re: multi-culturalism, Melting Pot vs Diversity
re: comment by Raheel Raza Toronto Star 2008 Feb 01 "Endlessly divisible Canada"  http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/299337
comments reply to Raza  http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/300351
Raheel Raza is a Toronto-based Muslim feminist, author and public speaker.  www.raheelraza.com

 
 
 
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