This book examines how popular narratives of Canadian identity became implicated in Canada’s foreign policy in the Global War on Terror. McDonald argues that Canada’s decisions to join the 2001 Afghanistan War yet abstain from the 2003 Iraq War became politically possible because parliamentarians linked these policies to similar narratives of an enduring Canadian identity - even while re-imagining their meanings. These decisions are explored through politicians’ mobilization of three discourses: Canada as America’s neighbour, Canada as protector of foreign civilians, and Canada as a champion of multilateralism. This book challenges conceptions of national identity as entirely stable or fluid and contests predominant arguments that downplay the role of identity discourses in Canadian foreign policy. The relevance of these narratives is assessed by exploring the rhetoric of Canadian foreign policy in light of contemporary international challenges, including the Donald Trump presidency, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s War on Ukraine.
Author(s): Taylor Robertson McDonald
Series: Canada and International Affairs
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 261
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Author
Abbreviations
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Identity and Foreign Policy in IR
Repetition and Practice in Examining Identity and Foreign Policy
Why Not in Canada? The Study of Identity and Foreign Policy in Canadian IR
Why Look to The House?
The Purchase of Theorizing Discursive Practices in the Case of Canada and the “Global War on Terror”
Plan of the Book
Notes
Bibliography
2 Identity and Foreign Policy as Discursive Practices: A Framework
Introduction
Identity and Foreign Policy as Discourse
Identity as Discursive, Relational, and Productive
Identity and Foreign Policy as Discursive Practices
Moving Beyond Beliefs, Embracing Consistency and Inconsistency
Commonplaces as the Key
Rhetorical Commonplaces and “Making Sense”
Discursive Practices, Canadian Parliament, and the “Global War on Terror”
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
3 Won’t You Be My Neighbour? Discourses of Canada’s “Neighbourly Relations” and the War on Terror
A Conceptual History of Canada–US Relations
Genesis of a Continental Experience: The Founding of “Canada–US Relations”
Bitter Enemies, Beleaguered Allies, Outspoken Friends: Anti-Americanism in “Canada–US Relations”
Loyalists Head North: New World Enemies (1775–1913)
Desperate Decisions and World War Allies (1914–1945)
Cold War Friends (1945–2000)
Brotherly Love or Trouble Next Door: Parliamentary Discourses of Canada as America’s Neighbour in the War on Terror
Canadian Foreign Policy Discourses on Afghanistan
The Family Discourse
The Voice of Reason Discourse
Canadian Foreign Policy Discourses on Iraq
The Family Discourse
The Voice of Reason Discourse
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
4 Crusading Saviour and Condemning Onlooker: Discourses of Canada the Protector and the War on Terror
Canada as Protector of Foreign Civilians: A Conceptual History of Canada’s Approach to Human Security
A Moralistic Approach to International Human Betterment (1947–1970)
Exporting Canadian Values: International Development as Canada’s Tool to Strengthen National Identity at Home (1970–1985)
Selective Engagement: The Limits of Canada’s Obligations to Defending Human Rights (1985–1995)
Protecting Women and Children: Canada as the Leader of Human Security (1995–2002)
Crusading Saviour or Condemning Onlooker: Parliamentary Discourses of Canada as Protector of Foreign Civilians in the War on Terror
Canadian Foreign Policy Discourses on Afghanistan
The Crusader Discourse
The Condemner Discourse
Canadian Foreign Policy Discourses on Iraq
The Crusader Discourse
The Condemner Discourse
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
5 All for One, One for All: Discourses of Canadian Multilateralism and the War on Terror
Internationalism, Status, and Subordination: A Conceptual History of Canadian Multilateralism
Canadian Internationalism
Canada the Peace-Keeper
Canada the Middle Power
Coxian Discourse: Canada as Subordinate
Team Player or Team Leader: Parliamentary Discourses of Canada as Champion of Multilateralism in the War on Terror
Foreign Policy Discourses on Afghanistan
The Global Community Discourse
The Middle Path Discourse
Foreign Policy Discourses on Iraq
The Good Ally Discourse
The Bad Ally Discourse
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
6 Re-imagining Canada? Foreign Policy Discourses in the Age of Trump, Putin, and Pandemic Politics
Being America’s Neighbour in the Age of Trump, Biden, and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Persistence of Canada as Protector? Trudeau’s Feminist Foreign Policy
Expect the Expected? Discourses of Canadian Identity and the Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Russia’s War in Ukraine: Canadian Multilateralism and “The Return of the West?”
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
7 Conclusion
The Not-So Same Old Song and Dance?
Navigating a Tumultuous World8
Notes
Bibliography
Index
