Grade 12 - Canadian and International Politics CPW4C (2015)

Canadian and World Studies

Political Inquiry and Skill Development

Political Foundations

Governments and Canadian and International Politics

Non-Governmental Action on Canadian and International Political Issues

Rights and Power in the International Community

Political Inquiry: use the political inquiry process and the concepts of political thinking when investigating issues, events, and developments of national and international political importance;

Developing Transferable Skills: apply in everyday contexts skills developed through investigations related to politics, and identify various careers in which a background in political studies might be an asset.

Political Thought: demonstrate an understanding of various political ideologies, theories, and concepts, and analyse their relevance to Canadian and international politics

The Evolution of Modern Politics and International Relations: analyse the role of ideology, diplomacy, and conflict, including conflict related to decolonization, in the evolution of politics in and relations between various countries around the world in the past century

Influences on Canadian and International Politics: analyse how social, economic, and geographic factors influence contemporary politics in and relations between various countries around the world

The International Influence of Governments: analyse how strategies/practices used by a state or states can affect the policies and status of other states

Intergovernmental Cooperation: demonstrate an understanding of the role of intergovernmental cooperation in international politics

Canadian Government Policies and International Relations: analyse Canada's foreign policy objectives and factors that affect them

Civic Awareness and Responsibility: analyse the role of civic awareness and responsibility among citizens and non-governmental stakeholders in the national and international community

Challenges and Strategies: demonstrate an understanding of key challenges relating to various issues of national and global political importance and of the strategies and effectiveness of various non-governmental stakeholders, including NGOs, in addressing them

Contributions to the Global Community: assess the importance of the contributions of individuals and other non-governmental stakeholders to national and global communities

Influence, Power, and Decision Making: demonstrate an understanding of how power is distributed and exercised in Canada and other countries, and of factors that affect its distribution

Technology and Globalization: assess the influence of globalization and technology on Canadian and international politics

Human Rights at Home and Abroad: explain violations of human rights in Canada and abroad as well as the role of Canadian and international laws, institutions, and processes in the protection of human rights

formulate different types of questions to guide investigations into issues, events, and/or developments of national and international political importance (e.g., factual questions: Which ideologies are on the extremes on the political spectrum?; comparative questions: What are the main similarities and differences between the structures of government in Canada and Great Britain?; causal questions: What impact did the 9/11 attacks have on domestic political policy in the United States?)

select and organize relevant evidence, data, and information about issues, events, and/or developments of national and international political importance from a variety of primary and secondary sources (e.g., primary: interviews, legislation, photographs, policy statements, speeches, statistics, surveys, treaties and other international agreements; secondary: articles, documentaries and other films, news stories, political cartoons, textbooks, websites), ensuring that their sources reflect multiple perspectives

assess the credibility of sources relevant to their investigations (e.g., the reliability of the evidence presented in a source; the purpose, intended audience, and context of a source; the bias, values, and expertise of the speaker/author)

interpret and analyse evidence, data, and information relevant to their investigations, using various tools, strategies, and approaches that are appropriate for political inquiry (e.g., use a cross-classification chart to help them analyse information they have gathered about different countries� responses to the same issue; use a web chart when comparing the points of view of different politicians; assess the validity and rank the importance of various points made in their sources; discuss, clarify, and compare positions on an issue with their peers)

use the concepts of political thinking (i.e., political significance, objectives and results, stability and change, political perspective) when analysing and evaluating evidence, data, and information and formulating conclusions and/or judgements about issues, events, and/or developments of national and international political importance (e.g., apply the concept of political significance when analysing the impact of a nationalist movement in a particular country; use the concept of objectives and results to help them determine the criteria to use in measuring the effectiveness of the work of a non-governmental organization; use the concept of stability and change when analysing the evolution of Canadian foreign policy; use the concept of political perspective to help them explain government support or lack of support for a particular United Nations resolution)

evaluate and synthesize their findings to formulate conclusions and/or make informed judgements or predictions about the issues, events, and/or developments they are investigating

communicate their ideas, arguments, and conclusions using various formats and styles, as appropriate for the intended audience and purpose (e.g., a persuasive essay on an issue related to globalization; a debate on the pros and cons of nationalism; a seminar on the relationship between political ideology and political policy; a letter to an appropriate elected official requesting action on an issue of national or international importance; a web page highlighting issues of importance to indigenous peoples; a blog about human rights issues; an editorial cartoon on a recent political controversy; a news report on a political protest in a country other than Canada)

use accepted forms of documentation (e.g., footnotes or endnotes, author/date citations, bibliographies, reference lists) to reference different types of sources (e.g., articles, blogs, books, films or videos, policies, websites)

use appropriate terminology when communicating the results of their investigations (e.g., vocabulary specific to the topic; terms related to political studies and the concepts of political thinking)

describe ways in which political inquiry can help them develop skills, including the essential skills in the Ontario Skills Passport (e.g., skills related to reading texts, writing, document use, computer use, oral communication, numeracy, decision making, problem solving), and those related to the citizenship education framework,* that can be transferred to postsecondary opportunities, the world of work, and everyday life

demonstrate in everyday contexts attributes, skills, and work habits developed through investigations into political issues, events, and/or developments (e.g., show attributes such as respect and cooperation to help them build positive relationships with diverse individuals/groups; use critical-thinking and decision-making skills to formulate a position on a controversial issue and participate in informed discussions/debates about that issue; apply work habits such as initiative and responsibility when researching and considering their postsecondary options)

apply the concepts of political thinking when analysing current events relating to issues of national and international political importance (e.g., a coup d’état, a political protest and the government response, a terrorist attack, the mistreatment of Canadian nationals in another country, a new international trade agreement, a break in diplomatic relations between two states), in order to enhance their understanding of these issues and their role as informed citizens

identify a variety of careers in which skills developed in political studies might be an asset (e.g., band councillor, community leader/activist, educator, international aid worker, journalist, lawyer, lobbyist for a non-governmental organization, policy analyst, politician, pollster, researcher, social worker, speech writer)

describe some key similarities and differences between various political ideologies (e.g., liberalism, conservatism, capitalism, fascism, socialism, communism, anarchism), and explain where these ideologies fall on a political spectrum (i.e., a political compass model or other type of spectrum

describe the main ideas of various political theorists/philosophers (e.g., John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Hannah Arendt, Frantz Fanon), and explain ways in which these ideas have influenced historical and/or contemporary politics (e.g., with reference to the political rights of women, the establishment of communist or socialist states, decolonization, the welfare state, the neoliberal policies of Margaret Thatcher or Ronald Reagan)

analyse the concept of nationalism (e.g., with reference to sovereignty, patriotism, ethnic nationalism, national identity, national pride, different concepts of nationhood) and how nationalism and nationalist ideologies have affected and continue to affect politics in Canada and other countries (e.g., political unification and/or separation of some countries, nationalist/separatist movements, the role of nationalism in anticolonial movements, ethnic cleansing, nationalist symbols and images, jingoism, militarism)

analyse key policies of some governments, both historical and contemporary, in various regions, and identify the political approaches/ ideologies these policies reflect (e.g., liberalism, conservatism, neoliberalism, social democracy, socialism, communism, fascism, Nazism, communism, populism)

analyse ways in which conflict and violence have influenced politics in and relations between various countries around the world since World War I (e.g., civil wars in Russia, Spain, Algeria, China, or Syria; Axis invasions during World War II; genocides, ethnic cleansing, and other crimes against humanity in Turkey, Nazi Germany, Ukraine, Rwanda, or the former Yugoslavia; terrorism in Northern Ireland or the Middle East; the Dirty War in Argentina; the crushing of the Prague Spring or Arab Spring)

analyse the role of some pivotal developments in diplomacy since the late nineteenth century (e.g., the Peace Congress of 1899 in The Hague, the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, the Munich Agreement, the United Nations [UN], Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, the Camp David Accord)

describe key developments related to decolonization and how they have affected politics in and relations between various countries since World War II (e.g., wars of liberation and civil wars, creation of new states in former colonies, changing borders, new political alliances, power struggles in newly independent countries, establishment of the Commonwealth, replacement of political colonization with economic colonization, changes in trade)

analyse how various economic factors (e.g., GDP per capita, trade balances, poverty rates, currency exchange rates, employment rates, inflation rates, recessions, depressions) influence politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada

analyse various ways in which national, ethnic, and/or regional identities influence politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada (e.g., Mohawk protests at Oka and/or Anishinaabe protests at Ipperwash, the October Crisis, the Canadian policy of multiculturalism, regional political parties in Canada or other countries, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Indo-Pakistani conflict, Somalia's civil war, relations between Russia and Ukraine, organizations such as La Francophonie)

analyse how various social and cultural factors, including aspects of social/cultural identity, influence politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada (e.g., with reference to shared language/culture, education levels and literacy rates, fertility rates, health and welfare, immigration, international sporting events)

analyse various ways in which domestic political policies influence a country's relations with other countries (e.g., with reference to apartheid, political persecution, or other human rights abuses; militarism and expansionism; economic protectionism or openness to free trade; relations between countries with different political outlooks)

analyse how religion influences politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada (e.g., with reference to the public funding of secular and religious schools, ideas about the separation of church and state, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the influence of religious teaching about gender roles, the role of religious fundamentalism in conflicts around the world)

analyse how geographic and environmental factors influence politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada (e.g., with reference to geographic location, natural resources, water scarcity, climate change, environmental degradation, natural disasters, invasive species)

explain, with reference to specific examples, the significance of diplomatic recognition for states and factors that can prevent countries from granting such recognition (e.g., with reference to Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China, South Ossetia, Palestine, Israel, recognition of a new government following a revolution or coup d’état)

explain the significance of different classifications that are used to describe political entities in the international political system (e.g., political classifications such as country, state, territory, department, administrative region; economic classifications such as developed/developing, First World/Third World, North/South)

identify strategies used by individual countries or groups of countries to influence the internal policies of others in the international community (e.g., sanctions, suspending diplomatic relations, motions of censure, granting or withdrawing aid, conferences, covert activities), and assess their effectiveness in specific cases

explain how various forms of dispute resolution (e.g., negotiations, mediation, arbitration, prosecution, International Court of Justice, sanctions, embargoes, war) are used to resolve conflicts between states, and assess their effectiveness in specific cases

analyse the roles of various intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) as well as Canada's role in them (e.g., the UN, EU, African Union, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund [IMF], World Trade Organization [WTO], Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Association of South Asian Nations)

assess the effect on Canadians and the international community of various international agreements signed by Canada (e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

analyse how globalization and technological advances have created the need for new types of intergovernmental cooperation (e.g., with reference to nuclear weaponry; space exploration/ activity; environmental and labour regulation in industrializing countries; censorship, freedom of speech, and the Internet; international terrorism; drug trafficking), and explain what types of international organizations/agreements are being developed to address these changes

describe Canada's foreign policy objectives and assess the effectiveness of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) in achieving them

explain how various factors (e.g., commitments under existing treaties, domestic interest groups, international non-governmental organizations [NGOs], foreign governments, the political perspective of the party in power, the health of the Canadian economy) influence Canada's foreign policy objectives and actions

analyse the role of responsible citizenship in the local, national, and global community Sample questions: "What are some skills and attitudes listed in the citizenship education framework (see page 13) that an individual who seeks to be a responsible global citizen should develop?" "What do you consider to be the role of the responsible citizen in the global community? In what ways is this role similar to or different from the role of the responsible citizen in the local community?"

analyse the role of information technology and the media, including social media, in raising civic awareness of issues of national and global political importance

explain key challenges relating to some specific issues of national and global political importance (e.g., Aboriginal land claims, climate change, protection of endangered species, loss of rainforest, food and water security, refugee crises, use of child soldiers or child labour, human trafficking, unfair trading practices, drug trafficking, violence against women, abuse of political power, privacy issues)

analyse various strategies used by individuals and non-governmental stakeholder groups to address issues of national or global importance and/or influence domestic or international decision-making processes

analyse lawful and unlawful forms of political activism or civic engagement, and assess responses to such activism

analyse how the perspectives of individuals and non-governmental stakeholder groups (e.g., corporations; unions; environmental, social justice, or women's groups; religious organizations; political lobby groups) may influence their response to issues of national and/or international political importance

analyse, and assess the effectiveness of, the operations of various NGOs and social enterprise groups (e.g., in terms of their fundraising, organizational structures, strategies for carrying out their mandate)

assess the importance of the contributions to Canada and the global community of various individuals (e.g., Louise Arbour, Stephen Lewis, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchu, Lester B. Pearson, Vandana Shiva, David Suzuki, Bertha von Suttner, Malala Yousafzai, Muhammad Yunus)

describe the objectives of a variety of NGOs and social enterprise groups (e.g., Amnesty International, Democracy Watch, Free the Children, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Oxfam, the Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies, Right to Play, the Social Enterprise Council of Canada, World Wildlife Fund), and assess the importance of their contribution to the national and global community

analyse the effect of various factors (e.g., geography, demography, economic resources, military strength) on the power of individual states and the global balance of power

analyse how power is distributed in Canada and in various countries around the world (e.g., with reference to social, economic, political, judicial, military power)

explain some key similarities and differences between Canada’s system of government and that of other countries (e.g., Canada’s constitutional monarchy versus Iran’s theocracy, Brunei’s absolute monarchy, the U.S. republic, or Cuba’s one-party state; Canada’s federal state versus unitary states; powers held by the central government and other levels of government in Canada and elsewhere; who has and does not have the right to vote in Canada and elsewhere)

explain the requirements for a democracy, and describe the characteristics and the strengths and weaknesses of different types of electoral systems used in democratic states (e.g., singlemember plurality, proportional representation, run-off systems)

identify countries or groups of countries that have supranational power, and analyse how such power affects international politics (e.g., with reference to superpowers such as the United States, Russia, and China; regional institutions/agreements such as the EU, Arab League, Pan-African Parliament, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Union of South American Nations, NAFTA)

assess the influence of communications and information technologies, including social media, on politics in Canada and other countries (e.g., with reference to increasing difficulty of controlling public access to previously privileged information; the use of robocalling to influence voters, of blogs to criticize governments, of texting to share information, of crowdsourcing to address a problem, of social media to follow, communicate with, and comment on politicians; ease of spreading propaganda or disinformation; the need for measures to protect privacy/confidential information)

analyse how globalization has affected politics in and relations between various countries, including Canada

analyse the impact of the power of multinational enterprises (MNEs) (e.g., petrochemical, biotechnology, agribusiness, banking, media, clothing, automotive, computer, information technology, and/or mining companies) on political policy in and relations between various countries

analyse some violations of human rights in Canada (e.g., Chinese Head Taxes, internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, residential school policies, segregation, laws that violated the rights of disabled people) as well as the Canadian government's responses to violations of human rights, humanitarian crises, and genocides internationally (e.g., the Holocaust, the Holodomor, apartheid in South Africa, the Rwandan genocide, the humanitarian crisis/genocide in Darfur)

explain how various factors can either facilitate or limit the ability of the international community to intervene to prevent or mitigate violations of human rights (e.g., with reference to economic, geographic, military, and/or cultural factors; public awareness and public opinion; political and public will)

explain reasons for the success and failure of various Canadian and international agreements, institutions, and/or processes that were intended to protect human rights (e.g., the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Geneva Conventions; the UN Commission on Human Rights; the International Criminal Court [ICC]; the Stockholm Declaration)

assess Canada's ability to protect the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens beyond Canada's borders