You’ve done research projects before, where you gathered data on a topic to learn more about it. The end result of that process was learning and possibly a summary of facts.

You’re about to do an Inquiry Project; this is different.

An Inquiry Project:

• begins with a specific question on a topic you want to learn more about
• it can be from a number of question options offered or one you develop on your own
• from your research on that specific question, the goal is to find the answer and form a personal conclusion/judgement on the topic.

We’ve studied the number of ways Canada is a democracy. Your inquiry project will relate to democracy in some way, either related to Canada, in comparison of one country to Canada, or studying another country entirely.

The list of questions offered to help you get started in your thinking:
(The red font indicates someone’s picked this topic.)

1. In comparing qualities of Canada to another country of the world, what makes Canada a better democracy than the other country?
2. Consider whether all countries in the world should be democracies. (Luke) 
3. Democracy is faltering in the international community; it’s weaker now than it’s been in ten years. Why is that?
4. What is changing in Poland (Luke), Turkey, Hungary (Ayslee) or Venezuela (Connor) to jeopardize their democracy rating on the index?
5. Some countries are rated to have lower freedom levels of their citizens. Pick one of these countries and find out what indicators exist to claim those citizens have a lower level of freedom?
6. Is Canada (currently or within the last decade) improving or sliding on the index as a democracy? (Jaxon)
7. Part of being a democracy is protecting the rights of citizens; when and how has Canada failed to protect citizens?(Lexi)
8. Is Canada currently or has it ever violated the human rights of Canadians? (Cameron)
9. What would make Canada more democratic on the index scale? (There are currently 5 other countries listed as more democratic than Canada.)
10. How is the quality of life of a Canadian in a highly democratic nation different from the quality of life of a citizen in a flawed democracy or authoritarian country? (Macey)
11. Myanmar was growing towards a democracy in the last few years, but many believe it has failed and stalled. What was changing in that country and is hope lost for the future of democracy for those people?

Resource Links: 

• Freedom in the World 2018 Table of Country Scores (index)
  Rates on Political Freedom, Civil Liberties, and Overall Freedoms
  
• Freedom in the World 2018 Democracy in Crisis 
  World map of free, partly free, and not free countries
  
• Wikipedia Democracy Index 
  Lists/scores fully democracies, flawed democracies, and authoritarian countries
  

Discussion example: 
In 2004, I lived with teachers in Prince Albert who taught at the Carlton High School. They were Ukranian and I recall them being concerned with an upcoming leadership election in the Ukraine. There were concerns of political corruption or interference, so several people worldwide were selected to go to the Ukraine to “monitor” and be witness to that election to be able to report back to the global community about the fairness of the election. The father of the family I stayed with travelled there to be one of these witnesses. It was around the same time that one political leader of the Ukraine was potentially poisoned – it caused clear damage to his face and body. As someone unfamiliar with stories from other countries, you may be surprised to learn of such corruption. It makes us more appreciative of Canada’s rule of law.
Now, 14 years after his poisoning, this former Ukrainian president has shared his reflections of his experience.