Outside-In
In 1945, fewer than 20 high and medium-intensity conflicts were experienced worldwide. Today, there are 130, including 25 severe crises. Clearly, the world is changing and the realities of its more violent nature are encroaching on Western nations that haven’t adapted to the challenge.
In a post-World War Two world, Canada, having proved its military worth, fielded foreign service officers that were perceived to be the finest in the world, having assisted in the founding of the United Nations and culminating in Lester Pearson’s Nobel Peace Price.
How the world viewed Canada very much framed how we thought of ourselves. We were a neutral and peaceful nation, open to the emergence of new countries and their struggling peoples. We were part and parcel of multi-lateral groups that emphasized security (NATO), peacemaking (UN), and the development of the Third World (UNICEF, etc.). No matter what international session, when Canadian diplomats walked in the room, a certain respectfulness filled the air. I know this to be true from numerous discussions from now retired ambassadors from other nations.
Things have clearly changed. Even the United Nations itself has had to undertake the difficult task of reminding Canada itself that it is failing its own women, children and aboriginal peoples. And on the international stage we are far more linked with war (Afghanistan) that we were with peace.
Two realities have led to this lamentable result. The first was the loss of the Canadian presence in diplomatic venues and high commissions around the world due to deficit cutting measures of the Liberals in the 1990s. But the second is by far more fatal and is presently affecting how the world now views us. I speak specifically of the lack of imagination that has coincided with the Harper years.
Former British Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd could easily have been describing Canada when he stated: “Diplomacy is unfashionable in a world of knee-jerk reactions and the dogmatic soundbite on television.” This currently describes the actions taken by the Harper government. They apologized for the Chinese “Head Tax” and then severely limited our diplomatic and economic relationship with the Chinese government itself. They say they care about Africa, then remove eight of its desperate nations from their international aid list.
Everywhere, except perhaps in things military and warlike, we have declined. The outer world is looking in on Canada and sadly witnessing our slippage. We have lost that kind of international imagination that actually made us a bigger country than we were on the world stage. There is no curiosity, no hunger for world peace or the end to global poverty that once made the rest of the world see us as different.
Sir Harold Nicolson, asked on what was the secret of diplomacy, responded candidly: “The art of diplomacy, as that of water coolers, has suffered much from the fascination which it exercises on the amateur.” It’s true. Amateur hour is upon us and only a cohesive and compassionate international vision can restore us to where the rest of the world dearly wants and needs us to be.