iPolitics
Examining the conventional wisdom which underpins world order.
Month: July 2012
Exploring the Myths of International Relations: Three Deadly Disconnects?
Summer in Canada is a wonderful time to reflect.
In that spirit, I was intrigued by an article, entitled “Seven Myths About International Relations”, which appeared recently on the splash page of the Canadian International Council’s (CIC) web site. It is part of a new series being published under the theme Diplomacy and Duplicity: The Myths, Fictions and Outright Lies of International Politics.
I commend the CIC on this latest initiative. Over a few short years of existence, this organization has produced an impressive record of achievement. It has carried forward the work of its predecessor, the venerable, but perpetually vulnerable Canadian Institute of International Affairs, but has innovated, diversified, and reached out to new members and partners. Two years ago the CIC launched its comprehensive Open Canada report on possible new foreign policy directions, and in the interim have presented a steady stream of high quality commentary and analysis authored by the likes of Roland Paris, Jennifer Welsh, James Der Derian and many others. The Council doesn’t hesitate to address sensitive issues, such as what went wrong in Afghanistan, and it keeps the fresh content flowing.
Kudos.
It occurs to me that in this era of anti-government government, and with the continued downsizing of the state, Canada’s comparative advantage in thinking about the implications of a changing world may well be moving out of official Ottawa. With budgets at DFAIT, CIDA, IDRC and other international policy institutions under significant downward pressure, it is both refreshing and a great relief to see a civil society actor stepping up to the plate and helping to fill the civic gap created by a muzzled, cowed and receding public sector.
This country’s vibrant community of NGOs, universities, and think tanks could now be in a position to drive the international policy discussion and debate.
I certainly hope so.
But a closer consideration of just how those structural changes might play out is for another day… Back now to the CIC’s list.
In Defense of DFAIT: Why Diminished Diplomatic Capacity Damages Canadian Interests
These are not the best of days at DFAIT.
According to an article on p.1 of this week’s of Embassy magazine, Canada will be moving to a “hub and spoke” model for its diplomatic network in Europe, centralizing resources at a few larger missions while reducing the Canadian presence elsewhere in the region.
A box on p. 9 in the same edition reports that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will lose about $170 million from its budget over the next three years. As a result, and among other things, the Department will:
• Review Canada’s participation in some international organizations
• Close five US missions in Anchorage, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Raleigh-Durham, and one satellite office in Princeton
• Introduce five new regional clusters in the United States: West Coast, Midwest,Great Lakes, South East, North East, and the South Rocky Mountain corridor
• Phase out the international Canadian studies program
• Reduce the funding and geographic scope of the International Scholarships Program
• Change DFAIT’s domestic network to have five regional hubs (Vancouver, Calgary,Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax) and close offices in Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon,Winnipeg, St. John’s, Charlottetown, and Moncton
• Eliminate 35 Commerce Officer positions
• Reduce the vehicle fleet at missions
• Update allowances for diplomats
• Extend the length of postings
• Sell some official residences abroad
Working smarter?
Readers may well be thinking… Hub and spoke in the EU? A bit of trimming here and there?
Under the prevailing circumstances in public finance, these measures seem modest, sensible, and perhaps timely if not overdue.
Shrug.
With a few exceptions, that has certainly been the reaction across the Canadian mainstream.
As with so much received wisdom, however, a closer examination is necessary.