Monday, November 03, 2003

GRANATSTEIN: VALUES v. INTERESTS

One of Granatstein’s major arguments is that for too long Canada’s foreign policy has been based on a desire to project its values rather than an attempt to secure its interests. First, Granatstein makes this argument because he disagrees with those values, or more likely only the way they have been articulated. Secondly, Granatstein ignores the possibility that the projection of Canadian values and our national interests are nearly synonymous.

Granatstein bemoans the Canadian focus on multi-culturalism, and human rights. He says Canada’s foreign policy must have "more realism and less moral earnestness." He goes on to say of our national interests:

"They must be spelled out, and policy must be based on a clear conception of what truly matters, not on perpetually calling for multilateral processes in the tiresome Ottawa way or on some vague and shifting sense of what Canada and Canadians might be or stand for."

I agree with him that Canada’s foreign policy needs more attention and must be more focused. However, he again does not understand what many Canadians want from their foreign policy. While Granasteing argues our foreign policy should promote greater security and interaction with the United States Canadians do want our foreign policy to reflect "what our country stands for" as Granatstien says. Further, I do not think that these ideas are particularly vague or shifting.

Canada’s leading role in the international treaty banning land mines is an excellent example of this. This treaty does not to a great deal to immediately increase Canadian security or to develop our relationship with the U.S. Some may argue it in fact does the very opposite. Yet Canadians feel that initiatives such as these represent the values that Canada stands for. Advancing a foreign policy based on values and not interests may be naïve and unrealistic, it may put as at a disadvantage because it is a type of policy no other nation in the world attempts to advance; but it is the policy Canadians want. Further it reflects that not only are we different from the U.S. but we are different from everyone else. The desire for this type of foreign policy is another reflection of a uniquely Canadian identity. It is this that bothers people like Granatstein the most.

Posted by Matthew @ 12:11 a.m.