by Donna Kennedy-Glans Globe and Mail President Hamid Karzai’s recent backsliding on women’s rights in Afghanistan caught Canadians off guard. Emotions remain frayed, and the situation has prompted reflection about Canada’s role – indeed, the role of any middle power – in containing extremism beyond its own borders. Of course, the Canadian military is committed [...]
Lifting the secular veil
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008by Donna Kennedy-Glans “How do you conduct business in the Muslim world after Sept. 11?” I am encouraged by this question posed to me recently by an intrepid class of university commerce students. They didn’t ask “if” you could do business in the Muslim world-they had not, like some, fallen headlong into the wide chasm [...]
Beyond Polarity
Monday, October 1st, 2007by Donna Kennedy-Glans I worked for decades as a lawyer and then corporate executive in the international extractive sector. In this role, integrity dilemmas were plentiful. When a North American company invests in an oil, gas, gold or diamond project in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East or frontiers in the west, the “right” [...]
Gender jihad: Enhancing female access in politics
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006by Donna Kennedy-Glans Yemen’s 2006 election was not only a barometer of pluralism in the Arab world, but also, a barometer of hope within Yemen. The September 2006 election results in Yemen mark the first time in modern Arab history that a president was seriously contested by an opponent with substantial popular support. The election [...]
Help Wanted: HR Sherpas to Navigate Integrity Dilemmas during Economic Boom
Tuesday, May 16th, 2006by Donna Kennedy-Glans Alberta’s economic players are proving themselves worthy in a globalizing world. We are seen by others as a big, strong warrior decked out in armour, capable, aggressive and hungry for our piece of the worldwide economic pie. Alberta has the financial and natural resources and the infrastructure potential to suppoer exponential economic [...]
Equality nudge needed at home
Friday, April 7th, 2006by Donna Kennedy-Glans The progress and celebration of egalitarianism in the Muslim world affords those of us in the West another chance to consider what equality of opportunity for men and women can look like in our own homes, offices and communities. Bridges Social Development, a Calgary-based humanitarian organization, offers training to women in the [...]