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International Affairs and Canadian Migration Policy pp 41–63Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Canada and the UN Global Compact on Refugees: A Case Study of Influence in the Global Refugee Regime

Part of the Canada and International Affairs book series (CIAF)

Abstract

In the aftermath of World War Two, states created a global refugee regime by establishing a set of norms and institutions intended to facilitate collective action in responding to the needs of refugees. While Canada has been an active member of the regime since its inception, there is little research on the mechanisms Canada employs to influence outcomes in the regime. In response, this chapter examines Canada’s role in the development of the UN Global Compact on Refugees, which was affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018. Through this case study, this chapter considers how Canada’s ability to exhibit influence in the regime is a result of its perceived moral and expert authority, deriving from its resettlement of refugees and its financial contributions to the regime, combined with the political and diplomatic engagement with the functioning of the regime itself. This analysis provides a basis for future research on Canada’s evolving global refugee policy and engagement with the global refugee regime.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The author wishes to thank Nathan Benson and colleagues at the Refugee Hub, University of Ottawa, for analysis of global movements against the GCM.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    James Milner

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  1. James Milner
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Correspondence to James Milner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Prof. Yiagadeesen Samy

  2. Department of Political Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Howard Duncan

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Milner, J. (2021). Canada and the UN Global Compact on Refugees: A Case Study of Influence in the Global Refugee Regime. In: Samy, Y., Duncan, H. (eds) International Affairs and Canadian Migration Policy. Canada and International Affairs. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46754-8_3

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