In 2015, Canadians celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag, the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birthday and the 100th anniversary of the writing of “In Flanders Fields.” In 2016, Canadians recognized the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and 2017 will mark Canada's 150 anniversary as a nation. All are proud moments to be sure, but these celebratory events unfold at a time of doubt about Canada’s place in the world.
Laurier’s bold prediction of Canadian leadership in the twentieth century has not necessarily come true. Canada's democracy is in need of an overhaul and its indigenous peoples are in crisis. An obsession with domestic security detracts from our leaders’ capacity to address pressing economic and political problems. Canada’s foreign policy has stumbled on the international stage as its leaders confront seismic shifts in global politics that pull the country in different directions. The brief unipolar moment experienced at the turn of the century has become a multipolar system, dominated by rising giants that dwarf Canada, both economically and militarily. To add uncertainty to the mix Justin Trudeau's ambitious multilateral agenda faces unprecedented challenges with the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.
If Canada is no longer the energy superpower we were led to believe, can it still become the international political and economic dynamo that Laurier foretold – a land of work for those coming from troubled places around the world, of opportunity, investment, innovation, prosperity and equality? To what extent has Canada’s place in the world shifted fundamentally for the better (or worse) since 1867? How should changes in priorities be reflected in Canadian foreign policy? Should Canada continue to hook its wagon to the United States or seek its future elsewhere? Is multilateralism still the reference point for understanding Canada’s international engagement? In this special issue we gather a number of scholarly contributions that aim to answer these questions. Each contribution provides us with unique perspectives on Canada’s place in the world, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
David Carment
Editor
Joe Landry
Managing Editor