Preview

Sovereignty And Minority Rights In Canada

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1735 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Sovereignty And Minority Rights In Canada
A close ratiocination of the instances where there have been claims for self determination one can sufficiently claim that the right to self determination and the right of a state to its sovereignty are always at logger heads. When these two rights are pitted against each other, the quest here is for the determination of which rights supersedes the other in such scenarios. It can be referred to as a difficult balancing act. In today’s multi ethnic states there clearly have to be a balance, an acceptable equilibrium between a states sovereign power and the rights of minorities which international law has been extremely succinct about which affirms the commitment of international actors and policy makers to human dignity.
From the year 1990 to 1995 there was an attempt to strike this much needed balance between sovereignty and national minority rights by the Organization for Security in Europe and the Council for Europe. These two organizations saw the need to have national minorities given a say in the running of the affairs of the sate and they also sought to align emerging trends towards minority rights in Europe. Suffice it to say, they were faced with two options ideally, resort to more direct means of economic or military enforcement or bring about compliance with national minority rights and to them, the former seemed the most logical option . Sending peace keeping troops or imposing economic embargoes was seen as a very drastic option where there was visibly gross violations of human rights and eruptions of conflicts in states, instead there was a clear aim to prevent conflicts from reaching the point where these drastic measures would be resorted to. Their goal can be said to have been the encouragement of democratization and the respect for human and national minority rights within their area of operation.
Coming back to the era of democracy, we can see different results of the balance or equilibrium between sovereignty and minority rights. In most

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Focussed Topic: Prior to the first half of the twentieth century, Canada was nothing more than a British colony, but that changed as the nation went through a building block of events towards full autonomy.…

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many events that have sculpted Canada’s autonomy through our history and created the independent nation we live in today. Before and during the First World War Canada did everything Britain said because we were under their BNA act. However, in 1922 after the war, Britain and Turkey were fighting over the British controlled port of Chanak. When Britain told Canada to come fight with them, instead of saying yes, Prime Minister King said we would take it to Parliament and have a vote. Fortunately, the dispute ended before anyone had to go to war. The following year, Canada and America created a treaty that protected…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The history of colonial is a major reason for race discrimination in Canada. Morrison and Borsa (2014) study that during the history of pre-confederation in Canada, colonialist creed and European cultural and racial hegemony contributed to equivocal relationship with Aboriginal people. In brief, the interrelation between these two ethnicities was vibrating midst overt hostility and patronizing submission. Morrison and Borsa (2014) also point out that during the process that those colonialist struggled to assimilate native people, enormous Aboriginal people started to immigrated to exotic country. Thereby, it caused population loss, dislocation, extensive social disruption and widespread sedenterization among the Aboriginal people. This influences…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Canada has a strong sense of national identity. When travelling abroad you can hear praises the moment they find out you’re Canadian. That is, if they don’t assume it first by your manners along with your affectionate nature. In Canada you’re bound to find millions of people, with a million different stories, over 35 million to be exact. This helps develop a strong Canadian identity, as we cannot be defined by race, religion, or values, we can be defined by the fact that we are Canadian citizens. There are no boundaries or regulations on what defines you as a Canadian, whether you are Caucasian, African-American, or Asian, we are all the same. It does not matter if you speak French, or English, for the Canadian…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    De Tocqueville and Mill both cite the possible oppression of minority groups as a significant drawback to democracy. While each author cites the 'tyranny of the majority' as a possible problem, their perceptions of the alleged problem differ in scope and definition. De Tocqueville regards the above mentioned problem largely as a hindrance to actual action on the part of minority groups and individuals; Mill discusses it relating primarily to the oppression of minority thought. De Tocqueville recognizes the ability of the government to regulate thought, but does not focus on it to the extent that Mill does.…

    • 982 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Royal Proclamation of 1763, and the Constitution Act, 1982 that reaffirmed the existing rights of Aboriginals, both establish that it is legitimate for Aboriginal self-government to be located at the national level. A nation-to-nation relationship shows the greatest respect for the sovereignty of the Aboriginal peoples and therefore have the greatest legitimacy. However, it would impossible for Aboriginal groups to make a direct transition from federal jurisdiction to full sovereignty, as they often lack the efficient capacity to self-govern, and there is no clear consensus among the rest of Canadians, about the form that self-government should take.…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women's Rights In Canada

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout the last century, Canada has changed greatly as a nation. Events varying from World War battles to human rights breakthroughs have shaped Canada into what the country is presently. Prideful events such as the Battle of Vimy Ridge established identity, independence and nationalism for Canadians. Shameful events though, such as the Internment of Japanese-Canadians, violated human rights and promoted inequality. Canada developed as a nation during the twentieth century through the victory of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War One, the Persons Case in 1929 and the internment of Japanese-Canadians throughout the Second World War.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Canada is one of the first countries that is known to adopt multiculturalism as their official policy. By doing so, Canada affirmed the value and dignity of all Canadian citizens, regardless of their race, ethnicity, culture, or religious affiliation. Multiculturalism has led Canada to higher rates of naturalization than ever before. With no pressure to assimilate and to give up their culture, immigrants freely choose their new citizenship. As a result of substantial amount of immigrants over decades there has been a growth to the recreation of subcultures. According to statistics of Canada, the country’s Japanese population is growing faster (citation). The majority of the population is centred in British Columbia (43%), Ontario (34%), Alberta…

    • 196 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I believe that Canada is the only country in the world that doesn’t have an identity. Are Canadian government has equal rights to everyone and anyone who enters. To have an identity is to be who, or what a person or thing is. In Canada are government has created a “Democracy”, meaning you as a citizen have the right to make your own identity; but Canada as a whole cant. Canada is known around the world as a strong and free country, and is very proud of there unique identity. As a Canadian we strongly rely on our government to supply use with the essentials that are country cannot function without. In my opinion Canada has many aspects of nation that are very important to me. Such as culture and religion, political and economic, and linguistic;…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aboriginal people, the first nations amongst Canada, being outnumbered for years had been put under a situation in which hindered in the continuation of their identity alone. Although with the years in its withstanding, the importance of the events and all of the occurrences make a part of the strength and downfall to the native population. Through the hardships, it’s definitely evident that there were many aspects towards cultural differences, as well as social differences. In that sense, a strong conflict theory had definitely been present. Regardless of other factors, the conflict theory would best describe the situation with aboriginals as there was a big stretch of power differential and humanity amongst these people was definitely non-existent. Aboriginals fell under a lot of inequality and pressures of succeeding obstructed their ways of life.…

    • 897 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The detrimental enforcement of colonialism sparked an era of oppression that has altered, even destroyed years of cultural and spiritual traditions by creating a forced lifestyle that changed the face of First Nations peoples forever. Forced European culture resulted in the diminishing of Firsts Nations values and rights. A cycle of social, physical, and spiritual obliteration resulted from the dispossession of First Nations lands and the implementation of foreign methods of government. Poverty, poor health, and substance abuse are some of the long-term side effects that came about from this oppression. European settlers came overseas, unwelcome into First Nations territory with absolutely no respect for their traditions and ways of living. Over time children were taken away from their families and native homelands to attend residential schools; Native students were given new names and taught to speak English. Residential schools attempted to brainwash First Nations children to erase their native culture and traditions. First Nations peoples were defenseless under the power of the Europeans; their rights were ignored and their values were completely demoralized. First Nations peoples were forced down the path of violence and educational failure, which eventually led to poverty. These effects were a direct result of the disrespect and insensible attitude put forth towards First Nations peoples by the European settlers.…

    • 1721 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    From Canadian history, we can observe discrimination against Indigenous population. The discrimination took a part in various ways. One of the biggest discrimination Indigenous people faced and are still facing is violation of basic human rights, separation of families with no consent, and abuse of power and authority of the ones who are suppose to protect them. In this essay, I will argue that Indigenous rights of Canada can be advanced through proper education in and outside of Indigenous communities and better representations in the government of Canada. To end stigma and racism against Indigenous people, it is important for the general public to be properly informed about the history of Indigenous people and the values that they stand for.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people came to Canada because they thought it was a country of opportunity to them. If you were to look into Canada’s history, you might say Canada was not a land of opportunity for all groups. Gender, race, religion and education were all very important aspects that shaped Canada’s history. These four categories weren’t respected and treated with care. This is why gender, race, religion and education are still a problem within our country today.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Coordinated Market Economy

    • 17608 Words
    • 71 Pages

    Peter A. Hall is Krupp Foundation Professor of European Studies and the Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies at Harvard University. Daniel W. Gingerich is a Graduate Associate of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and a Ph. D. candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University. Peter A. Hall phall@fas.harvard.edu Daniel W. Gingerich gingeric@fas.harvard.edu…

    • 17608 Words
    • 71 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Canada and Racism

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Canada is perceived to be a tolerant country open to multiculturalism. In both stories “I’m not a racist but...” and “I’m a banana and I’m proud of it” we see that Canadians may stereotype immigrants just as easily as other countries.…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays