Minor Canadian Studies at Radboud University Nijmegen, 2005-2006: "Focus on Canada: Introduction to Canadian Studies"

Starting in September 2005, the American Studies program of Radboud University Nijmegen offers a new "minor" program in Canadian Studies to advanced undergraduate students in the humanities and to all who are interested in the study of Canadian culture, history and society. The program is made possible with the help of ACSN and ICCS/DFAIT.

On the global scene Canada (one of the Big Seven) plays an important but not always clearly visible role. As a member of the British Commonwealth, it cherishes traditionally strong links with its former mother country and colonial authority, Great Britain, and forms an influential postcolonial nation. As the northern neighbor of the powerful United States of America, Canada is closely tied to the US in its historical, economic, social and political relations. Indeed, one of present-day Canada's biggest problems is precisely that difficult relationship with its powerful, intimidating and at times politically and economically aggressive southern neighbor. In this, the question of Canada's economic, and hence political and cultural independence, and of its ability to pursue its own international policy, looms large. On the one hand, the organization of its political system is closely modeled on the British system, on the other hand Canada finds itself confronted with specific political and cultural issues (the official bilingualism; multiculturalism as official government policy) which makes it into a compelling blueprint for the world at large. Knowledge of and insight into social developments in Canada thus not only allows us to enhance our knowledge of and insight into the US; the political structure of (con)federation in present-day Canada also invites comparison with developments within the European Union, with Canada serving as mirror and magnifying glass for European questions and issues.

In the Minor Canadian Studies students acquire a broad scholarly expertise concerning Canada from a variety of academic disciplines and a comparative international perspective.

The Minor comprises three courses:

1. Canadian History (5 ECTS). Period: September to December 2005. This course aims to give students a solid knowledge of the historical, political, economic and multicultural developments in Canada since 1945 as well as an ability to compare Canadian developments with similar developments in Europe and the US. After a brief survey of Canadian history from the early colonial period to Confederation (1867) and the growth to national independence (1931), the emphasis will be on Canada's social, political, economic and cultural developments since the Second World War. Interdependent core themes will be: the struggle for political structure (federation or confederation), the question of Québec, the legacy of two colonial powers, the political, economic and cultural relationship with the US, and Canada's present position in the world.
2. Interdisciplinary seminar/ lecture series: Canadian Politics, Business, Society (10 ECTS). Period: November-December 2005 and February-March 2006. In a series of seminars and guest lectures by experts from the Netherlands, Europe and Canada students will explore a number a very specific issues and aspects of Canadian social, economic, political and cultural life in greater depth and detail. Topics will be determined by the specific expertise of guest lecturers and may include: the influence of Canadian visual media in the world; the influence of Canadian geography on urban and rural developments; the sometimes strained political-economic relationship with the US; the importance of the Meech Lake Conference for the (con)federative structure of Canada; de relationship with Europe, specifically the Netherlands; the relations with First Nations/Inuit; Nunavut as a political solution; Québec; Canada as blueprint for a multicultural society.
3. Canadian Literature (5 ECTS). Period: February-May 2006. In this course students will acquire insight into the growth and development of Canadian literature in English. In particular since the 1960s Canadian literature has witnessed a remarkable flowering. After a brief survey of the historical development of Canadian writing from to colonial period to the present, the course focuses on Canadian literature (especially fiction) in English after the Second World War, in particular on those writers who can be said to have contributed significantly to the remarkable upsurge of contemporary Canadian writing, such as Sinclair Ross, Margaret Laurence, Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields, and others.

The Nijmegen Minor in Canadian Studies (20 ECTS) can be followed by regular students from all Dutch universities. The program can also be followed as a mode of "contract onderwijs" by all who are interested in pursuing the study of Canada from an interdisciplinary perspective.

For further information about registration, costs, book orders, scheduling etc. please contact Prof. dr. J.T.J. Bak at h.bak@let.ru.nl or 024 3612782; or dr. J. Geurts at j.geurts@let.ru.nl or 24 3615641.