Canada's foreign policy: more execution than revolution

[Oscar]

Canada's foreign policy: more execution than revolution

[ Academic critque of the Harper government foreign policy ]

[ http://www.embassynews.ca/opinion/2014/ ... tion/46455 ]

By David Carment, senior fellow at the Centre for Global Cooperation Research, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute fellow and editor of the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal and Joseph Landry, a doctoral student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Issues 20.1 and 20.2 of CFPJ containing these articles can be accessed at [ http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcfp20/current ] and iaffairscanada.com. editor@embassynews.ca

Excerpts:

Canada's foreign policy stems from a government determined to diminish the influence of interest groups who stand in opposition to its agenda.


In a series of recent studies, CIGI fellow and Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson argues that Stephen Harper's foreign policy is nothing short of "revolutionary." Under scrutiny Ibbitson's claims do not hold up. Such is the evidence gathered from 15 meticulous peer-reviewed studies published in the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal this fall.

They conclude that Canada's foreign policy has been ambiguous in purpose and troubled by significant reversals. Where significant changes have occurred, the focus is on de-institutionalizing the policy process by marginalizing and defunding think tanks and NGOs closely associated with former, mostly Liberal governments, such as the IDRC, the North South Institute, Canada Corps and Rights and Democracy....


It is clear that Canada has undergone significant changes in foreign policy but they are not revolutionary. It is not enough that accountability within the current government is in short supply. Canadians should be concerned about the dysfunctional process by which counterproductive and contradictory policy choices are made.

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a sustainable, let alone revolutionary, foreign policy where Canadians are shut out of the conversation.