Toronto, Canada - The Canadian International Council (CIC), which promotes public interest and debate regarding Canadian foreign policy and international relations, is now publishing the Behind the Headlines series.
Since the 1940s the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) has published Behind the Headlines, bringing to its members and many other subscribers authoritative analysis of international affairs and Canadian foreign policy issues.
The CIIA and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) are partners in the Canadian International Council. An important feature of this partnership is that Behind the Headlines is now published by the Council. Articles in the series will support the missions of both the CIIA and CIGI - to contribute to a deeper understanding of international affairs, international governance and Canada's role in the world.
This partnership brings added strength and distribution to Behind the Headlines. There will be an increase from four to six issues a year. For subscriptions to Behind the Headlines go to http://www.ciia.org/bthsubs.htm.
The September issue, Our Nuclear Future: Hanging Together or Hanging Separately?, is by Paul Heinbecker, formerly Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations and now Distinguished Fellow, International Relations, at CIGI and Director of the Centre for Global Relations at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Heinbecker discusses how, from Afghanistan to Iraq, to Palestine and Lebanon, the world has become more fractious and international consensus on security has become correspondingly scarcer. Not surprisingly, progress on the arms control and disarmament agenda has foundered. Its prospects are worsened by the current American administration's disregard for multilateral cooperation it cannot control and its preference for US-led enforcement and compliance. In addition, the nuclear weapons states are largely indifferent to their disarmament obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, except as an instrument for constraining others. The evident nuclear weapons ambitions of North Korea, the alleged aspirations of Iran and the still-to-be-ratified US-Indian agreement on nuclear cooperation raise major questions about the continuing viability of the ACD treaty regime. Meanwhile rising oil prices and deepening climate change are renewing interests in nuclear energy in a range of countries, raising in the process all the old unanswered safety, security and environmental questions, and some new ones as well. The entire regime is, thus, in jeopardy precisely when events suggest it needs renovation and reinforcement. It can be made to work, but that will require greater recognition of common interest and shared fate in world capitals, especially Washington, than has been evident so far.
About CIC
In June, 2006, the Canadian International Council was created by founding partners, the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and the Centre for International Governance Innovation to address a need for the promotion of a better understanding of how the lives of Canadians are affected by pressing international issues. The CIC partners provide a unique forum for researchers, private organizations and members of the public to analyze and discuss international issues and the appropriate role for Canada. The CIC furthers this objective through joint panels, conferences, publications and a special online presence. The CIC blends the resources and research capabilities of CIGI with the long history of service to Canadians, the brand and the national reach of the CIIA. Visit www.canadianinternationalcouncil.org.