Canadian foreign policy

Making nice with Washington is not a foreign policy

Canada ended the Second World War as the third-ranking world power.

Though greatly eclipsed by the United States (and the Soviet Union), Canada was positioned ahead of the traditional great powers, France, Germany, the U.K. and China. Weakened by war, none were able to play a substantial role on the world scene.

At the crucial juncture when postwar direction was set and the Bretton Woods institutions, the UN and NATO established, policies championed by the U.S. dominated the world.

Enjoying a brief period of enhanced stature because of its strong (centrally planned) wartime economy, Canada developed a "quiet diplomacy" approach to the world hegemonic power.

The idea was to use close relations with the U.S. to exert influence on the world scene.

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Apartheid, the media and Canada's planned military deployment to Africa

Yves Engler

| December 14, 2016

Did Canada lead the international charge against apartheid and white rule in South Africa or criticize a country that, in fact, did?

Recent commentary about Canada's policy towards southern Africa's liberation struggles distorts history that should inform debate over Canada's planned military deployment to the continent today.

Munk School of Global Affairs reveals much about the state of Canadian foreign policy

Yves Engler

| October 29, 2016

Next week the Fraser Institute's newly established Peter Munk Centre for Free Enterprise will offer a daylong "Introduction to Economic Reasoning" seminar for Grade 10-12 students in Scarborough. Launched in June with $5 million from the founder of Barrick Gold, the Centre for Free Enterprise cements Munk's position as leading contributor to right-wing ideas. But, the ideologue's biggest contribution has been to a venerable public institution.

The Munk School of Global Affairs reveals much about the state of foreign-policy debate in this country. Among 35 million Canadians, the University of Toronto would be hard pressed to find a less credible source of support for the study of international affairs.

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As NATO war-mongering against Russia intensifies, Canada faces a difficult choice

No area of public policy is so shrouded in secrecy, obfuscation and outright deception than foreign policy. Most of the time it doesn't seem to matter much to the majority of voters who have more pressing things to worry about. But when Canadians read a headline that says "Russia mobilizing for war" one would hope they would take notice. A more absurd declaration is hard to imagine but there it was -- coming out of the offices of CSIS, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service. It was just the latest alarmist rhetoric in a steady stream of anti-Russian propaganda that coincided with the largest NATO military exercise -- dubbed Anaconda -- since the end of the Cold War.

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imperialism Canadian foreign policy NATO war-mongering Russia Crimea Trudeau government

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Canadians need more than celebrity from Justin Trudeau

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It was a night for nostalgia, the eighth and last White House Correspondents Dinner for U.S. President Barack Obama. The one-time Harvard Law Review editor and community organizer, a basketball-savvy president with worldwide appeal, was doing his final stand-up before the audience of media, political and Hollywood stars.

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Saudi arms deal sheds unsavoury light on Liberal foreign policy

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human rights Stephane Dion Canadian foreign policy war crimes Middle east policy Trudeau government Responsible conviction saudi arms deal

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The unbearable lightness of Stéphane Dion

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At the end of May, the Trudeau team and, specifically, its piffle of a global affairs minister, Stéphane Dion, will likely fail two significant foreign policy tests that will challenge their ability to comply with domestic and international law. One deals with an individual war criminal, while the other is a massive terrorism and torture trade show coming to Ottawa.

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Canadians detained abroad need more than 'responsible conviction'

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Stephane Dion Canadian foreign policy detention Department of Foreign Affairs Trudeau government diplomacy foreign affairs Responsible conviction

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Acknowledging Canada's complicity in the Libyan catastrophe

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The dystopian situation in Libya is so persistent that when we hear news of yet another slaughter, or the fragility of the new unity government, or ISIS taking over large swaths of the country, we just file it under "old news" and wait for the next story.

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Canadian foreign policy obama administration R2P Libya responsibility to protect Libyan war Muammar Gaddafi military intervention Trudeau government

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Why is Justin Trudeau invited to the White House?

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The Obama White House hosts Justin Trudeau for a state dinner March 10. This is the first full-scale official visit by a Canadian prime minister since 1997.

Justin Trudeau has attracted major media attention in the U.S., raising his profile in Canada. For the prime minister, the visit has already borne fruit.

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NAFTA Canadian foreign policy obama administration oil exports Canada-U.S. relations Canadian economy canada-u.s. trade Canadian trade deals Trudeau government Stephen Clarkson

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Canadian foreign policy

Making nice with Washington is not a foreign policy

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As NATO war-mongering against Russia intensifies, Canada faces a difficult choice

Comments

Do

Don't

Canadians need more than celebrity from Justin Trudeau

Comments

Do

Don't

Saudi arms deal sheds unsavoury light on Liberal foreign policy

Comments

Do

Don't

The unbearable lightness of Stéphane Dion

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Do

Don't

Canadians detained abroad need more than 'responsible conviction'

Comments

Do

Don't

Acknowledging Canada's complicity in the Libyan catastrophe

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Do

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Why is Justin Trudeau invited to the White House?

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