Adam Chapnick's Newsletter - September 2023
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. I hope to use it to update you on what I’ve been thinking and speaking about, where I’m speaking next, and people and issues that have caught my attention.
For those who are heading to school in some way, shape, or form today, welcome back! The international officers arrived at the Canadian Forces College a number of weeks ago and classes for everyone started two weeks ago, so fall arrived a little earlier (as it always does) for me. Every year, I spend a good hour or two feeling sorry for myself because, while others are vacationing, I am in the midst of one of my busiest months of the year, but I catch myself pretty quickly as the value proposition of teaching in August is pretty great. I teach exactly what I want to teach at the CFC. Very few academics can make that claim. So if the only trade-off is teaching in August (which does mean a much slower November/December), I'll take it every time!
Publications
Although I did quite a bit of work on my forthcoming history of Canadian foreign policy textbook these past few months - the six(!) reviews were helpful and positive and we plan to submit the final manuscript shortly - the only formal publication I have to report is a review of an important new book on the Harper government's approach to foreign policy for The Canadian Historical Review. I don't agree with the editor's suggestion that Conservative foreign policy between 2006 and 2015 was driven primarily by partisan politics, but I found the book more than worthwhile regardless. The chapter by Jeffrey Rice and Stéfanie Von Hlatky about defence policy was particularly good, and has changed the way I think and talk about that period. I also blogged three times: about the implications of hybrid parliaments on foreign policy; on the difference between influence and relevance in world affairs; and about why Bill C-282, which would tie our trade officials' hands in future negotiations, is a terrible idea.
In the Media
I spoke with a reporter from The Hill Times about Global Affairs Canada’s discussion paper on the future of diplomacy.
Upcoming Talks
On September 11th, I'll be part of a 10.30am online panel hosted by the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy discussing Canada's national interests. Registration is free, and the wider conference will run all day. On November 24th, I'll be speaking about "Canadian Defence Policy in Uncertain Times" as part of the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies' University Lecture Series at the St. George Campus. I'll be giving a similar talk to the Markham campus on November 30th and at the Oakville campus on December 11th. If you, or your organization, is looking for a speaker, please don't hesitate to reach out.
What I've Been Reading
I re-read Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance recently. I really like her distinction (pages 149-150) among a job (what you have to do), a career (what you do to enable what you really want to do), and a calling (what brings you pleasure). Academic duties are divided into three categories: teaching, research, and service. For me, teaching is a calling. The other two are parts of my career on most days, and my job on others. I'm close to finishing Sheri Segal Glick's '(decently comical) memoir,' The Skinny: My messy, hopeful fight for full recovery from anorexia. I recommend it to anyone who either themselves, or through family, has dealt with eating disorders. Glick's natural and engaging sense of humour makes a brutal topic accessible, touching, and even funny.
Scattered Thoughts
So long as the Trudeau government refuses to spend what is perceived to be its fair share on defence and international development, it will have a really hard time convincing its critics (particularly on the right) that Canada has to do more on climate change. It seems to me that you are either comfortable shirking international obligations or you aren't. You can't pick and choose which ones to shirk and expect too many people outside of your true believers to line up behind you. That said, it sounds to me like a Poilievre government would be no better on this front - I couldn't imagine the Conservatives, as currently constituted, increasing our defence budget by close to 50%, let alone doubling our international development budget. I guess shirking on all our global obligations could be portrayed as consistent...