It was a moment of global clarity. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech to the world’s political and economic elite gathered in Davos this week described global realities, past and present, with a candour and nuance rarely heard from a serving politician.
The message was twofold.
First, Carney made clear that the world has changed, and the old comfortable ways of global politics are not coming back. Those who wait for sanity to return are waiting in vain. We are in a world increasingly shaped by the threat and the use of hard power. All states must accept that reality.
Despite this, Carney’s second and more hopeful message was that while the globally powerful may act unilaterally, others — notably “middle powers” like Canada — are not helpless.
By finding ways to co-operate on areas of shared interest, states like Canada can pool their limited resources to build what amounts to a flexible network of co-operative ties. Taken together they can provide an alternative to simply rolling over and taking whatever great powers like the United States dole out.
I think anyone who thinks in absolutes of saying he’s “flip flopping” is a fool and have no concept of nuance and pragmatism. Even more so after he gave that speech, especially f you didn’t catch the part where he said “such classic risk management comes at a price”.
What we’re seeing, I believe, is risk management in action. The “price” we’re paying is likely every single piece of policy that is short term (as in 5-10 years IMO) detrimental. But can be diverted course when things improve. But that’s also up to us to vote for people that are principled rather than voting by emotions. The horizon of a government should be long term and not short term.