G8 research group
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The G8 Research Group's stated mission is to serve as the world’s leading independent source of information, analysis, and research on the institutions, issues and members of the Group of Eight or "G8" Summit.
The G8 Research Group was founded in 1987 at the University of Toronto. It is a global network of scholars, professionals in the media, business, government and research communities, and students interested in the ongoing activity of the G7 and G8, and related bodies such as the G20 industrial nations.
The G8 Research Group is supported by the International Relations Program based at the University of Trinity College, the Centre for International Studies within the Munk Centre for International Studies, Robarts Library, University of Trinity College’s John Graham Library and the Department of Political Science. The G8 Research Group was founded by Professor John Kirton, who is also the current director.
During the year, the G8 Research Group conducts programs of research, teaching, and information and public education.
The Group also sends representatives to the annual G8 Summit for documentation, media assistance, analysis, and conferences.
The G8 Research group runs the G8 Information Centre, which is an internet archive containing documents related to the summit and its ministerial meetings. The University of Toronto's Trinity College John Graham Library hosts a physical archive for G8 materials.
[edit] Criticisms
Some anticapitalist activists have called into question the G8 Research Group's neutrality, citing its admitted pro-market bias, as exemplified by John Kirton's July 18, 2006 interview with the journal Nature:
- Nature: "Another declared focus was energy. What was the most promising thing you heard about that?"
- Kirton: "We have come a long way from Russia's initial proposals for summit discussions last year, where there was no mention of the role of the market in energy security. Now a celebration of the market economy and democratic values pervade the final communiqué." (Watchdog at the G8)
Because the group has co-opted several of the aims anticapitalists share, many activists who consider themselves to be legitimate G8 watchdogs dismiss the activities of the G8RG ("Gator Group") as apologetics for the primacy of the market.[citation needed]
