Institution-building in the Pacific - Canada in APEC

This article reviews APEC's evolving architecture and activities against the background of the growth and development challenges facing the Asia Pacific region. The opportunities and challenges presented to Canada as chair of the APEC process are discussed, as are the specific plans far APEC events to take place in Canada throughout 1997. The author asks whether the multilateral approaches pioneered in the postwar, Bretton Woods period remain relevant to addressing Canada's contemporary interests in the region. The paper identifies how APEC's evolution and consensus-based approach in fact diverge from those which prevail in other institutions, making it a ''new-age'' body. Canada's contribution to APEC's unique development, particularly in overseeing the rapid evolution of its economic and technical cooperation agenda, are detailed. The article concludes that in its approaches to APEC, Canada has been able to advance domestic interests and regional well-being.