The
range of judgments about Canada as “the land God gave to Cain” (Jacques
Cartier) and as a country that remains, “in the twenty-first century, a
haven of peace and a beacon of prosperity” (The Penguin History of
Canada) is as large as the geographically second largest country in the
world itself.
Those
who shaped its history were always challenged by its arduous topography.
They brought together people who came from all parts of the world. They
faced the peculiarities and consequences of the fact that the country
has been part of two empires. From time to time they had to resist the
desire and wooing of its southern neighbor while cultivating a
profitable partnership and they successfully established Canada as part
of a global trading system.
In
this context, Canada emerged from the confederation of scattered British
provinces, established a stable political system, completed peacefully a
more than 100-year process of complete independence, and became one of
the most industrialized nations with one of the highest standards of
living on the globe, actively participating in world affairs. The
history of Canada tells the story of a complex but dynamic country where
its inhabitants were often forced to turn challenges into
opportunities.
- Dozent/in: Marcel Hartwig
- Dozent/in: Patrick Opdenhövel