We write to announce the launch of an exciting new initiative - the production of the first English-language comprehensive book - Québec and the World: Foundations, Regions, Actors & Issues - on Québec’s engagement with the international community. This effort, led by the Center for the Study of Canada & Institute on Québec Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh and the Québec Studies Program at McGill University, will result in a much needed, long overdue scholarly treatment of Québec that will benefit college and university students and faculty in the United States, Canada and throughout the international community.

With an established and growing interest in Québec in the United States it has become increasingly clear that an appropriate text for American students, teachers and researchers featuring a comprehensive overview on Québec’s international relations simply does not exist. Existing English-language volumes on Québec either provide a panoramic overview of Québec as a whole (such as Québec Questions: Québec Studies for the Twenty-first Century), are grounded in a distinctly political science perspective (the most important being Québec State and Society by Alain-G. Gagnon and The Québec Democracy by Guy Lachapelle, Gérald Bernier, Daniel Salée and Luc Bernier) or are episodic journal articles focused on but one isolated topic (appearing mostly in Québec Studies or the American Review of Canadian Studies). While there is no question that these works serve as essential course materials for professors teaching Québec in the U.S., it is clear that present-day research and scholarship on Québec Studies requires a far more contemporary, comprehensive and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary English-language volume exclusively dedicated to a detailed examination of Québec’s engagement with the international community.

AN AUTHOR’S WORKSHOP/COLLOQUIUM AND BOOK:

To facilitate production of the book Québec and the World: Foundations, Regions, Actors & Issues, an author’s workshop/colloquium will first be convened. Designed to be purposely interdisciplinary in nature, scholars from history, political science, sociology, economics and business, and culture are encouraged to participate in this project. The colloquium will explicitly be structured around a broad interpretation of Québec’s International Relations. In short, the focus of the colloquium is designed to be expansive; our aim is not to solely focus on “the state” or “state-to-state relations” but to also seek to examine and explain Québec’s multiple points of engagement with a wide range of regions/actors/issues in the international community, and review the importance and role of Québec-based non-state actors (e.g., civil society, NGOs) in fostering and contributing to Québec’s international relationships.

The colloquium will focus on four key thematic sections:

Foundations – The historical development of Québec’s engagement with the international community, Québec’s impact on Canadian foreign policy, the role of francophones in Canadian foreign policy, the role of Québec Studies as a tool of public diplomacy. World Regions – North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the North/Arctic Actors – La Francophonie, UNESCO, Civil Society, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), France, Haiti, Federated States, First Nations, Inuit, Diasporic Communities, the Council of State Governors, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers conference Issues – Education, Energy, Environment, Security, Trade, Investment, Immigration, Identity, Feminism and Culture

To facilitate the planning of the Québec’s International Relations: Foundations, World Regions, Actors & Issues colloquium as well as the writing, editing, printing and dissemination of the resultant book, the following timeline has been established: interested colloquium participants are required to submit a proposal - an abstract not to exceed 300 words (explaining the theoretical approach/empirical evidence to be examined), proposed title and current vitae to the colloquium coordinators/co-editors (Stéphan Gervais, Christopher Kirkey, David Meren, Stéphane Roussel and Jarrett Rudy) no later than June 1, 2012. Accepted contributors will be provided with detailed writing guidelines (length, format, footnote/reference style requirements, etc). A maximum of 20 proposals will be accepted for the colloquium.

Confirmed participants will be required to submit their draft contributions by October 15, 2012. Manuscripts will then be forwarded to a fellow colloquium participant who will prepare an evaluative review of the paper to be presented at the colloquium. The public colloquium/author’s workshop will be convened in Montreal, November 15-17, 2012. Evaluations of the draft colloquium papers will include:

o a summary of the key issues, findings, theoretical approach and empirical evidence of each paper; and
o substantive areas that the paper needs to take into consideration during the revision process.

Authors will be provided an opportunity to respond to the commentary offered by the evaluator and the floor will then be opened to general discussion from all conference participants (who will have received all of the colloquium papers in advance of arriving in Montréal), the purpose of which is to provide general and specific direction in the course of revising manuscripts.

By January 1, 2013, contributors will be provided with a formal written commentary/analysis of their contribution, reflecting the views and requested edits of the respective colloquium paper evaluator as well as those of the colloquium coordinators. Contributors will have until March 1, 2013 to undertake any requested revisions and to electronically re-submit their papers. Final editing will take place during the spring of 2013, with the final edited book manuscript sent out for publication in early summer.

At this time, we are very pleased to invite you to directly participate in this exciting project. We would be delighted if you would be willing to contribute a chapter. In appreciation of your contribution to Québec and the World, we are in a position to underwrite hotel accommodations in Montréal for two nights, an opening evening reception and all meals associated with your participation in the November 2012 author’s workshop/colloquium.

Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries you may have. We look forward to working with you and showcasing your contribution in Québec and the World: Foundations, Regions, Actors & Issues.

Stéphan
Stéphan Gervais
Coordinator
Québec Studies Program
McGill University

Chris
Christopher Kirkey, Ph.D.
Director
Institute on Québec Studies
SUNY Plattsburgh

David
David Meren, Ph.D.
Professor
Department d’histoire
Université de Montréal

Stéphane
Stéphane Roussel, Ph.D.
Chaire de recherche du Canada
Département de science politique
Université du Québec à Montréal

Jarrett
Jarrett Rudy, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of History
McGill University