Does Canada need a new Asia policy?

Abstract

What does Asia's rise mean for Canada? This introductory essay explores some of the economic, political, and military dimensions of Canada's relationship with China and India in particular, and how Canadian foreign policy might be developed to deal with a new reality where the world's economic and political centre of gravity is in the Pacific Ocean, rather than the north Atlantic. It also argues that using an informal “grand strategy” heuristic is a potentially useful way of assessing how to develop foreign policy in a complex and dynamic environment.

Keywords:

• Canada
• China
• Asia
• strategy
• foreign policy

Acknowledgments

The articles in this special issue were first presented at a two-day workshop held at Carleton University. After a rigorous selection process, 14 papers were presented. After a round of excellent discussant comments during the workshop, the seven articles found in this special issue went through an extensive peer review and emerge as you see them here. Without the generous gifts of time, energy and insight provided by our discussants and peer reviewers, the articles (and this special issue) would not have happened. To that end, we would personally thank the paper discussants at our conference: Jean Daudelin, Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy, Dane Rowlands, David Carment, David Malone, David Long, Yanling Wang and Kyle Christensen. We would also thank our anonymous peer reviewers. Finally, the special issue was ultimately made possible due to the generous financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Security and Defence Forum Special Project fund and the Centre for Security and Defence Studies. Carleton University and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs provided invaluable institutional support.

Notes

For example, Angus Maddison's historical GDP database estimates China's GDP to be approximately 90 per cent of America's in 2008, using 1990 Geary-Khamis dollars as the unit of measurement.

These numbers were estimated using the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Military Expenditure database, 1988–2011.

All trade statistics estimated using the International Monetary Fund Direction of Trade Statistics database. All foreign direct investment statistics estimated using Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Foreign Direct Investment database.

Statistic calculated using Alberta Energy's leased oilsands area data and statement from Nexen that they have interests or claims on approximately 300,000 acres in Athabasca.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Simon Palamar

Simon Palamar is a doctoral candidate at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and works at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Eric Jardine

Eric Jardine is a PhD Candidate in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. He is a recipient of a 2012–2013 SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. He has published extensively on insurgency and counterinsurgency in a number of peer reviewed journals, including Journal of Strategic Studies, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Civil Wars, Defence Studies, Parameters, Military Review and The Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, among others. Email: [email protected]