Navigating a World without Leadership? Canada and Its Allies in an Era of Geopolitical Turbulence (2024)

April 25–26, 2024

About the Conference

For Canada, perhaps more than for any other country, foreign policy and international engagement has long been predicated upon its relationship with allies, and the strength and reliability of U.S. leadership. What if that leadership can no longer be confidently relied upon? Discussion of the decline of Pax Americana and its potential impact is not new, but the diminishing capacity of the US to retain a global hegemonic leadership is under increasing pressure today, not only due to internal political polarization but also the persistence of complex issues and renewed global crises, and the political will of the US to sustain a leadership role. In this context, how can middle powers like Canada and its allies contribute to foster global security, address regional security crises, and promote democratic institutions and values and a rules-based world market economy?

In every aspect of its domestic, foreign, economic and security policies, Canada's fate largely depends on its relations with the US. Indeed, Canada is a good starting point for a reflection on the global impacts of declining or vanishing US leadership, because it is more deeply affected by whatever the US does than perhaps any other country. Also, Canada's capacity to play a role or exert influence on global issues has in the past often relied on the strength of its relationship with the world's foremost power. This conference seeks to bring together scholars and practitioners to reflect on these broad questions, and to contribute to the emerging discussion of the challenges and prospects for Canada in specific areas of the world where Canada has significant political and economic stakes, namely the Euro-Atlantic and in the Asia-Pacific regions.

Organizers

Thursday, April 25

6:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction

East Dining Room, Harvard Faculty Club, 20 Quincy Street

Peter A. Hall, Krupp Foundation Professor of European Studies, Harvard University

6:15 Dinner Address

Reflections on a Challenging Global Landscape
Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations

Friday, April 26

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Main Dining Room, Harvard Faculty Club

Antonia Maioni, William Lyon Mackenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies, Weatherhead Canada Program, Harvard University

9:15 Opening Address

Canada’s Foreign Policy in an Era of Turbulence
David Morrison, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada

10:00-10:15 Coffee Break

10:15-11:45 Panel 1

Canada and the Prospects/Challenges of a Shift in US Leadership

  • Kim Nossal, Queen’s University
  • Thomas Juneau, University of Ottawa
  • Jennifer Welsh, McGill University
  • Moderator: Joshua Kertzer, Harvard University

12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch Plenary

A New Canadian Foreign Policy for a Leaderless World
Kerry Buck, University of Ottawa

1:30 Panel 2

Europe and the Prospects and Challenges of Global Leadership

  • Spyros Economides, London School of Economics and Harvard University
  • Patrick Holdich, University College London
  • Kathryn Stoner, Stanford University
  • Moderator: Jeffry Frieden, Harvard University

3:00-3:15 Coffee Break

3:15-4:45 Panel 3

Asia Pacific and the Prospects and Challenges of Global Leadership

  • Christina Davis, Harvard University
  • Rana Mitter, Harvard University
  • Yves Tiberghien, University of British Columbia
  • Moderator: Robert Greenhill, Global Canada

5:00 Cocktails, Conservatory, Harvard Faculty Club

7:00 Dinner for Participants

The Maharaja, 57 JFK Street, Cambridge