The Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) proudly organized a lecture by the prominent Canadian social scientist, Mr. Michael Adams. Mr. Adams presented a provoking account of a rich Canadian experience in multi-culturalism. His presentation was entitled:
"Unlikely Utopia: The Surprising Triumph of Canadian Pluralism"
This is also the title of his latest book, published in November 2007, which focuses on the promise and challenge of Canadian multiculturalism. Mr. Adams spoke also on his recent polling work in Canada and elsewhere. His presentation was be followed by a general discussion.
Mr. Adams is the author of four Canadian best sellers: Sex in the Snow: Canadian Social Values at the End of the Millennium (published in 1997), Better Happy Than Rich? Canadians, Money and the Meaning of Life, (2000) and Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values, (2003), and American Backlash: The Untold Story of Social Change in the United States, (2005). All four books have been published by Penguin. In addition, Mr. Adams was named as one of the 100 most influential people in Canadian communications according to Marketing Magazine’s Power List 2005. In 2006 he founded the Environics Institute to sponsor survey research that will contribute to the discussion of important public policy issues. To date, the Institute has sponsored a survey of Canadian Muslims, a survey of the people of Afghanistan on issues related to the NATO mission in that country, a survey of Canadian’s engagement with the world plus an academic study of the impact of published polls on voting behaviour. The Institute is currently in the early stages of a research project on urban aboriginal life in Canada. Michael Adams holds an Honours B.A. in Political Science from Queen's University (1969) and a M.A. in Sociology from the University of Toronto (1970) and was named as one of the 100 most influential people in Canadian communications according to Marketing Magazine’s Power List 2005. Outside the field of research consulting, Mr. Adams has a variety of other interests including partnership in the Robert Craig Winery in Napa Valley, California, which has been rated by The Wine Spectator as one of the top 25 wineries in California.
The presentation and discussion took place on Wednesday, 2 April 2008 at the AWRAD's office in Ramallah. Mr. David Viveash of the Canadian Representative Office and other prominent governmental and non-government representatives attended the event. Mr. Adams' reflections of his trip to the country are included 