Democratization in/of Canadian Foreign Policy: Critical Reflections

Abstract

Introduction Democratization, no less than globalization, has become a watchword for world politics at the end of the 20th century. Indeed, the relationship between capitalism and democracy constitutes one of the central intellectual questions of our time. Here, Canadian foreign policy will be examined as a test-case of in a context of globalizing neoliberalism. I will argue that the recent democratization of Canadian foreign policy should be seen as the latest Canadian contribution in support of a US-led capitalist world order, as well as an example of passive revolution designed to shore up a crumbling domestic hegemony. I will begin by presenting evidence for the centrality of democracy for current Canadian foreign policy, both as a goal of policy as well as a means for creating and implementing that policy. I will then offer an interpretation of this phenomenon drawing on the neoGramscian framework.3 I will conclude with some reflections on the lessons the Canadian case holds for those committed to a truly democratic counter-hegemonic project, and for our