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. G-8 work session; July 20-22, 2001. ... The Group of Eight (G8) consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ...

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 University of Toronto (U of T) is a non-denominational, provincially-supported, coeducational public research university located in Toronto, Ontario. ... The Group of Eight (G8) consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ... The G-20 (Group of 20) is a group consisting of 19 of the worlds largest economies, together with the European Union. ...

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. Trinity College main building The University of Trinity College, or simply Trinity College is one of the federated colleges making up the modern University of Toronto. ... Devonshire House, home to the Munk Centre The Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto is devoted to the study of numerous issues of international significance. ... Trinity College main building The University of Trinity College, or simply Trinity College is one of the federated colleges making up the modern University of Toronto. ...

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 Group of Eight (G8) consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ...

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. The University of Toronto (U of T) is a non-denominational, provincially-supported, coeducational public research university located in Toronto, Ontario. ...

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 Nature Magazine: A cover of Nature Nature is one of the oldest and most reputable general-purpose scientific journals, first published on November 4, 1869. ...

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.

External Links

• G8 Information Centre
• Munk Centre for International Studies
• "G8 Live" G8 Research Group news and blogs from, and leading up to, the St. Petersburg summit