Geopolitics

Fascinating piece on Canada's super-power potential. One of the big things it has going for it is climate change, but also demand for the energy resources that could help to curb global warming. 

This was an interesting detail, too: "Does Canada have the money? It has the G7’s lowest net debt and deficit levels as a percentage of GDP. So growth-enhancing investment could be financed in part by borrowing."

This was a great piece in the FT. Canada has to third biggest proven oil reserves in the world, with basically the same population as Saudi Arabia!

Saudi Arabia is an interesting comparison though: both countries are dominated by an inhospitable climate and immense natural resource wealth, but wildly different political institutions. 

Are Canada’s really set up to be a global power? It’s technically partly still a British colony!

Be specific.    
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d33m:mun

Reporter and writer. I cover energy, climate change and geopolitics. Contact me via my website www.alexanderckaufman.com and subscribe to kaufman.substack.com.

I was stunned when I read Trudeau had to get the King’s representative to call the election

I agree it’s historical: Canada has always been far more pro-British 

But I also think it’s socio-cultural. Most Western liberal societies just are utilitarian, and if it doesn’t interfere with day-to-day 99% of the time then it’s fine. That mode of thinking does not compute with multi-decade strategic vision. 

The USA too, but at least on the matter of governance, the US stood for something: libertarianism. Where are the principles and vision of Canadian leadership today? It’s not something politicians care about.

MbS, however, is the opposite, and is optimising for a 5+ year vision. Trump is similar in that sense, as was De Gaulle. But it’s rare for a liberal society to think about these things and they end up stagnant at a local maximum instead.

Great point. I am always curious why republicanism gets so much airtime in Australia but not Canada. I have assumed it’s part of their historical distinction from the U.S. and so they’ve been reluctant to part with it. Plus the Queen was a big Canada stan