Governance in the 21st Century: Proceedings of a Symposium Held in November 1999 Under the Auspices of the Royal Society of Canada

Description

224 pages
Contains Photos
$15.00
ISBN 0-8020-8411-7
DDC 320'.6'0971

Year

2000

Contributor

Edited by David M. Hayne
Reviewed by Patrick Colgan

Patrick Colgan is the former executive director of the Canadian Museum
of Nature.

Review

This “unsolicited report to Canada’s leaders” stems from the Royal
Society of Canada’s conviction that many major contemporary problems
are due to failure in governance. Delivered in a one-day symposium, the
contributions range from the general and diffuse to the focused and
specific.

After lucidly explaining why coherent governance is essential in a
global economy, Ostry sensibly proposes a World Environmental
Organization. VanDuzer, writing on the governance of corporations,
cogently calls for increased protection of community interests through
stockholder proposals and corporate disclosure. Cairns, in a paper on
aboriginal issues, points out the complexities of initiatives for Native
nations given increased movement to urban areas. Polanyi correctly
presents “a bleak picture” of contemporary governance of science.
Angus and Begin deftly explore the many problems of governing health
care and make recommendations such as the introduction of report cards.
The challenges to military culture presented by the larger and changing
society are examined by Dandeker and Winslow. Governance in relation to
the Western Hemisphere and civil society is also addressed.

Regrettably absent are chapters on the environment and the arts. The
stronger chapters benefit from comparisons with other nations and
development of specific recommendations. For these chapters, this book
is recommended.

Citation

“Governance in the 21st Century: Proceedings of a Symposium Held in November 1999 Under the Auspices of the Royal Society of Canada,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 22, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/8926.