Curtis: Is Conservative foreign policy different from Liberal foreign policy?

By: /
6 September, 2011
By: John Curtis
Adjunct Professor at Queen's University and Chair of Statistics Canada's Advisory Committee on International Trade Statistics

Yes, in terms of tone and to some extent direction; foreign policy on close examination tends to be bipartisan as it reflects in the end domestic interests, which don’t change all that much over the years.

There’s still the focus on the United States as Canada’s number 1 priority but with a slight tilt to more militarism and less expressed interest in Africa compared to Latin America or South Asia.

We’re a little less constructive on multilateral governance concerning international political arrangements, trade, or development but slightly more on international financial governance…all slight shifts of emphasis but not dramatic with the possible exception of the Arab-Israeli situation, where rhetoric has been more evident than policy change as such.

Before you click away, we’d like to ask you for a favour … 

 

Open Canada is published by the Canadian International Council, but that’s only the beginning of what the CIC does. Through its research and live events hosted by its 18 branches across the country, the CIC is dedicated to engaging Canadians from all walks of life in an ongoing conversation about Canada’s place in the world.

By becoming a member, you’ll be joining a community of Canadians who seek to shape Canada’s role in the world, and you’ll help Open Canada continue to publish thoughtful and provocative reporting and analysis.

Join us