International cultural policy in Canada : exploring dialogues in an emerging practice

This thesis argues that there is an emerging field of international cultural policy in Canada informed by ongoing changes in the pattern of policy making. Caught between old nationalist discourses of a unified Canadian nation, and the rapidly changing global environment, the Canadian cultural policy makers struggle to make Canadian culture survive both at home and abroad. In this research, international cultural policy will refer to cultural policy designed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Moving beyond a simple empirical analysis of policy, this thesis adopts Tony Bennett's definition of the governmentalization of culture applying a Foucauldian governmental rationality line of thinking. Looking at how cultural creation is being governed through discursive formations, various conceptualisations, techniques, institutional arrangements, participating actors and government initiatives, this thesis maps out international cultural policy as an emerging governmental practice in Canada