Special Reports

This special report is comprised of 11 papers, which provide reflections on the internationalization of indigenous rights and the relevance and positioning of UNDRIP within and by Canada. The papers were written by indigenous and non-indigenous scholars from a variety of disciplines including history, political science, law, psychology, sociology and Native studies. Contributors discuss the historical importance of the declaration and the conflicted nature of Canada’s relationship to it. 

The core of this report, co-published by CIGI and the Institute for New Economic Thinking, is to lay out in practical terms the critical issues China must consider in managing its engagement with the evolving IMS. There are both opportunities and pitfalls, and the hope is that the payments approach used will highlight why, and how, China and the IMS should “talk to one another.” This must be a two-way dialogue. While the pace, direction and ultimate goals of reform are for the Chinese to decide, what they decide will have implications going both ways — for them and for the functioning of the IMS. Avenues must be found to discuss and assess these implications from a system-wide, cooperative perspective.

The world economy showed remarkably strong and widespread growth throughout most of the second half of the twentieth century. The continuation of that success, however, has been undercut by financial instability and crisis. Weak and uncoordinated macroeconomic policies, inappropriate exchange rate policies, inherently volatile private markets for international capital flows, and weak regulation and oversight of highly risky investments have all played a part. To regain the financial stability that must underpin a renewal of global economic strength will require improvements in both policy making and the structure of the international financial system.

Canada and Australia have shared interests in bolstering economic prosperity and security cooperation across East Asia. The focus of the world economy has shifted to Asia; Canada should follow the path Australia has taken for decades and orient itself — in economic and security terms — toward the emerging economies of East Asia.

The inaugural volume in the series, written by Harold James, discusses the purposes and functions of central banks, how they have changed dramatically over the years and the importance of central bank cooperation in dealing with international crises.

On September 5-6, 2013, leaders of the world's major advanced and emerging economies will meet in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G20 summit, with a focus on developing policies aimed at improving sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth, and jobs creation around the world. In this special report, CIGI experts present their perspectives and policy analysis on the key priorities facing the G20 at St. Petersburg, including macroeconomic cooperation, sovereign debt management systems and stimulating international development.

An ever-greater proportion of immigrants to Canada is from countries in the Global South, including Africa. The Southern African diaspora in Canada, which currently exceeds 120,000 people and continues to grow, is the focus of this special report, co-published with the Southern African Migration Programme. Guided by the new consensus that migration is, or can be, good for development, given that migrants from the South to the North rarely cut their ties when they emigrate, the authors of this report, led by Jonathan Crush, CIGI Chair in Global Migration and Development, provide a systematic knowledge base about the Southern African diasporas in Canada, insights about the actual and potential development impacts of these diasporas, and a new methodology for accessing information about diasporas.

The effects of the global financial crisis continue to be felt across a spectrum of issues five years later — the short-term outlook for global growth; the need for international cooperation; the strengthening of international financial regulation; financing sustainable development; and leadership in a turbulent world.

The visit to Ottawa by Mexico’s President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto the week of November 26, provides Canada with the opportunity to elevate its bilateral relationship with Mexico to the level of a strategic partnership. Bilateral trade and investment have increased steadily since Canada signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, but there remains enormous, untapped potential, particularly in Mexico.

This report reviews a menu of indicators for the candidate goals to inform the future process of selecting the post-2015 successors to the MDGs and will be presented to officials and diplomats at the United Nations, the World Bank and representatives of civil society organizations and researches in New York and Washington.