
Another Russian Revolution?
Canada’s former ambassador to Russia on why Alexei Navalny is an existential threat to Vladimir Putin.
Former ambassador to the European Union and high commissioner to Britain
Distinguished visiting diplomat at Ryerson University since 2010, Jeremy Kinsman left the Canadian foreign service in 2006, after 40 years. He had served as a Canadian ambassador for 15 years, in Moscow (1992-96), in Rome (1996-2000) as high commissioner in London (2000-2002), and as ambassador to the EU in Brussels (2002-2006). Earlier postings were in Brussels and in Algeria before going to New York in 1975, where he became deputy permanent representative to the UN. He was then chairman of policy planning in Ottawa, before becoming minister for political affairs in Washington (1981-85). From 1985-99, he was on loan as assistant deputy minister of communications responsible for the cultural affairs portfolio of the federal government and for broadcasting. Recalled to Foreign Affairs in 1989 as the assistant deputy minister for international security affairs and political director, he notably served as chair and interdepartmental coordinator for Canada’s political engagement in the Gulf War 1990-91. After leaving government service, Jeremy Kinsman transferred his energies to civil society, heading from 2007 an international project for the Community of Democracies, which has recently produced the third edition of A Diplomat’s Handbook on Democracy Development Support (www.diplomatshandbook.org). He leads the project’s workshops which train professional personnel from participating countries and civil society representatives in democracy and human rights support. A frequent speaker and lecturer in Europe and North America, in 2007-2008 he was diplomat in residence at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. Kinsman was then appointed 2009-10 regents’ lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley and joined Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies as resident international scholar.
Canada’s former ambassador to Russia on why Alexei Navalny is an existential threat to Vladimir Putin.
Simon Anholt, The Good Country Equation: How We Can Repair the World in One Generation. Berrett-Koehler, 2020.
Internal divisions are tearing both the US and the UK apart. But while the US will likely swing back to its moderate ways once Trump is gone, the UK will be forever changed post-Brexit, writes Jeremy Kinsman.
Former Canadian ambassador to Russia Jeremy Kinsman calls for a new, robust roadmap for dealing with Putin and asks: which global leader is prepared
to stick to it?
The expectation that Justin
Trudeau would re-establish a positive relationship with the White House officially
fizzled this week. Jeremy Kinsman asks if Canada has been playing its cards right and how it might proceed.
As a Canadian ambassador once said, negotiating with the US means coping with ‘a country of a thousand
players who can deliver a thousand wounds.’ As NAFTA talks continue, veteran diplomat Jeremy Kinsman
reflects on his own experience and cautions against appearing too eager for an
accord.
Canada’s former High Commissioner to the UK, Jeremy Kinsman, on the many lessons that should be taken from Thursday’s
results: ‘Division of societies
won’t work any more.’
With
a general election called for June 8, is May a shoo-in? Jeremy Kinsman, former Canadian high commissioner to the UK, on why now and what could throw the narrative.
Navalny may not be able to beat Putin in next year’s presidential election, but he is
inspiring a new kind of thinking in Russia.
With Donald Trump’s inauguration around the corner,
let’s take stock of his election — remembering not to normalize his behaviour —
and then get on with it, writes Jeremy Kinsman.
Trudeau’s unabashed praise of the late Cuban leader reflects a special relationship between the two countries — one that needs reinforcing as Cuba faces a period of great change.
For seven years, Canada has been trying to find the EU’s evasive sweet spot of consensus on a bilateral trade deal. If CETA is rejected this week, is the EU good for anything anymore?
Aspects of Canada’s pluralism model may serve Europe well, but is it a fair comparison? In advance of 6 Degrees, the upcoming three-day event on inclusion, diplomat Jeremy Kinsman looks at the challenge of identity and integration in both regions.
UK
Prime Minister Theresa May has asserted that “there will be no second
referendum” following Britain’s vote to leave the EU on June 23. But what if
the European model changes in the meantime? As veteran diplomat Jeremy Kinsman
writes, in a follow up to his open letter to David Cameron, when nothing is
clear, anything may be possible.
In this open memo to the outgoing British Prime Minister, […]
On the eve of the UK’s referendum
over EU membership, Canada’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom,
Jeremy Kinsman, looks at how the debate got this far and what to expect next
week, and beyond.
The European Project was meant to ward against the 20th
century nationalistic passions that led to two world wars. But a financial
meltdown, refugee crisis and now unnecessary referendum have blown a perfect
storm into a hurricane. Is the EU just too big to fail?
Why have Arab states failed? Within borders drawn by outsiders, most
are institutionally weak, archaic, corrupt and inert, riven by sectarian
hostilities. The epicentre of failure is Syria. Jeremy Kinsman on how the
region fell into chaos, and how it will get itself out.
With more than 30 killed on Tuesday, former EU-based diplomat Jeremy Kinsman reflects
on the complex make-up of communities now in the spotlight and the
difficult task of preventing this kind of violence.
In the two months since taking office,
the Liberal prime minister has hit the global stage running, embodying the Canadian spirit
of multilateralism and inclusivity.
World media attempted to put a human face on refugees, but now, with
recent terror attacks, ISIL is pitting ‘foreigners’ against Europeans. Can the
EU emerge from this united?
When it comes to Greece and Europe, EU leadership must think in terms of decades & centuries, not weeks & months.
Jeremy Kinsman reflects on politics, money, and lies. And where sport sits in the middle of it all.
This year’s election campaign needs to address strengthening U.S. and North American relations.
Few relationships are as adversarial as that of the US and Iran. But negotiating with one’s enemy is the most important kind of diplomacy — Canada should take note.
Eugenie Bouchard’s recent behaviour mirrors Canada’s on the international stage. By Jeremy Kinsman.
For the millions who felt empowered by events in Tahrir Square, a democratic awakening has been postponed but not smothered, argues Jeremy Kinsman.
How did we get to this point in eastern Ukraine? And how can we prevent it from escalating further?
As Russians mourn the murdered opposition leader, Jeremy Kinsman reflects on what his death symbolizes in the country’s battle for democracy.
There is no military solution to the conflict, argues Jeremy Kinsman.
Jeremy Kinsman on how the prime minister has projected himself and Canada in the world.
Russia may still be an antagonist for Western governments, but the end of the Cold War was the start of something much bigger.
The continental bonds of North America’s Three Amigos feel frayed. We can do better, says Jeremy Kinsman.
Jeremy Kinsman on what the Flight MH17 crash means for the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Jeremy Kinsman on Canada’s strained relationship with Russia in the Arctic.
“We don’t negotiate with terrorists” is a slogan without substance. […]
Nothing positive has happened during the current round of negotiations […]
The Ukraine protests were not primarily about geopolitics, the EU […]
It’s becoming a sort of dysfunctional Canadian story. 1) The […]
Parliamentary oversight of these controversial powers is essential but the […]
Rouhani’s election in Iran and then the tentative and preliminary […]
I offer a memory that serves as a constant reminder […]
It depends who the critic is. Netanyahu’s entitled to express […]
Alan B. Sielen writes in the current issue of Foreign […]
No. There is no legal mandate for electronic interception of […]
Jeremy Kinsman on why successfully building and renewing democracy depends on civil society.
The “West” – that is the U.S., France, and the […]
Democracies should be giving more aid to Egypt, not less. […]
We’re not there yet. Anti-gay laws were one of the […]
The U.S. actually comes across in the Wiki-leaked documents mostly […]
No. Sure, it’s a real mess and one of Morsi’s […]
No question it has. Civil liberties give way whenever there’s […]
“Charity begins at home.”
Obviously, Canada. That it is so obvious Canada needs it […]
The reasons international intervention has so far been limited to […]
You’re playing into the “gotcha” game. Leave that to the […]
It will depend on whether the Harper Government sees development […]
Of course. Trudeau (PET) believed deeply that Canada has a […]
It’s remotely possible that if the conclave chose a Pope […]
The one that scares me the most is Pakistan’s. Anything […]
A “threat”? That’s not the right word. Canadians these days […]
In fact, Islamic terrorist attacks in 2012 world-wide were down […]
Yes. The UN Security Council urged members to do so. […]
Fast-breaking trivial info item: Canada’s Foreign Service Officers are to […]
Of course. Purposeful diplomacy means talking with everybody, above or […]
Vastly different challenges. China’s political oligarchy has to cede its […]
As public policy, carbon pricing is desirable. Out here in […]
Not outside of Canada. It’s hard to imagine there is […]
Not outside of Canada. It’s hard to imagine there is […]
If Morsi weren’t from the Muslim Brotherhood, would the question […]
If Morsi weren’t from the Muslim Brotherhood, would the question […]
OK, I’ll bite, if only possibly to help others make […]
OK, I’ll bite, if only possibly to help others make […]
No and yes. Canada will not “cut ties” with the […]
The Quebec riots might be more meaningful if they were […]
It’s a reality that has transformed human affairs. Global inter-connectedness […]
If only it were that simple. His desperate and brutal […]
Being advocates immediately after 9/11 for NATO to go to […]
Selectively, and gradually, yes, for citizens from defeated states. But […]
We do. We have managed democratic pluralism reasonably successfully and […]
Self-involved? Thrilled with itself? But also enviably sound.
Self-involved? Thrilled with itself? But also enviably sound.
Of course. They should have done so for at least […]
“Permission” by the Government only clicks in when there are […]
For now – that is before the November US elections […]
Canada can’t in practical terms do anything of consequence by […]
The need for neighbourhood has never been greater. The three […]
Most opportunities flow from events and as 2011 showed, “experts” […]
The “Own the Podium” Vancouver Winter Olympics didn’t make much […]
I doubt, speaking from British Columbia, that Northern Gateway has […]
No way. Military subordination to civilian authority is a sine […]
The notion the G20 might extend national credits to help […]
Of course. Democracy and human rights activists are accused of being […]
Of course – as are butchers, priests, surgeons, and artists. […]
Monnet dreamed of ending Europe’s murderous wars and it came true. […]
Hurting, for sure. The campaign is offensive. And it’s stupid. […]
Philip Stephens writes in the Financial Times that Palestinian statehood […]
As a democracy activist, I hope so. But defence of […]
Conservative minority governments entered with sparse world experience or interest […]
Conservative minority governments entered with sparse world experience or interest […]
The regime will inevitably fall to the democratic forces sweeping […]
The regime will inevitably fall to the democratic forces sweeping […]
The “royal” retrofit to the Navy and Air Force titles […]
The “royal” retrofit to the Navy and Air Force titles […]
Theories and agendas abound. A crisis over values is exposed […]
He wrote he would “kill to avoid the islamicization of […]
It’s not about “softer” but about being rational. John Baird […]
Africans agreed not to unravel arbitrary colonial borders which ignored […]
Presence, yes, but why “military?” Where’s the threat? Fantasies like […]
Though the IMF also provides short term financing to Greece, […]
Upside in capacity but downside in international behaviour. Our Afghan […]
Support the “Arab awakening.” The Globe and Mail describes Stephen […]