I've always been somewhat interested in Canada for its particular style of multiculturalism, but it's only in the last couple years that I've started to give any thought towards Canada's greater role in the world. Your Substack reviews have definitely encouraged me to think more about this subject. And I think you're definitely on to something: Canada may very well emerge as a greater global player in the coming decades.
I will say that Canada seems to enjoy a very positive reputation abroad, much more so than the US these days, at least in Germany. I'm fairly well connected to German media and culture, and Germans tend to have a very positive view of Canada. I think this stems from a generally positive predisposition towards the Anglo countries, but is further supported given Canada's largely steered clear of the foreign policy disasters and populist uprisings we've seen in the US and UK in the last 20 years. Germans have been even more interested in Canada lately as a possible supplier of natural resources, a much more reliable and humane (if distant) alternative to Russia. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw more partnership and engagement between the EU and Canada in the coming years.
To conclude, I'll just add that I think a "Maximum Canada" could also be a great thing for the United States. At a very general level, I think the US suffers from a lack of peer nations. We have close international partners, of course---mostly in Western Europe and East Asia---but those places are too far away, and Americans have too little vacation time, for most of us to ever build any sort of meaningful relationship with them. Obviously (and regrettably) there are many forces at play that prevent many US-Americans from taking Latin America as seriously as they should. This lack of substantive engagement with other countries is an issue, in my opinion, because it shrinks the collective US imagination of what's possible in terms of public policy, culture, etc. In other words, it breeds complacency. Some visible competition with Canada, even if only in terms of health, infrastructure, and immigration, could help dismantle that political and cultural cloud of ignorance that hangs over so much of the United States. Though, if I'm being honest, I could also imagine that US superiority complex / contempt for Canada, which you allude to, blocking or discrediting the sort of meaningful dialogue and engagement with Canada hat I'd like to see. Indeed, it seems that more or less accurately describes the current US-Canadian relationship, at least at a popular level.
I agree – even the Minimum Canada we have today sometimes operates as a counterpoint in terms of healthcare and gun control. The issue is that it's so small that it's possible to dismiss as being not a real country worthy of comparison with the United States. I expect the United States to experience major social changes over the coming decades as well and if the anti-immigration backlash subsides its population should grow too. I think this may be the make or break issue for American future preeminence.
Only one problem—few want to live where it’s that cold. I’m speaking from the personal experience of having lived in Toronto too.
My feeling is that if the US suddenly offered instant citizenship to all Canadians, soooo many would leave for sunnier skies. What percentage do you think would leave?
One thing I noticed is that it's gotten progressively warmer there over the years, likely as a result of anthropogenic climate change. Another reason that I think Canada will do well in years to come is that it has ample water resources and temperate climate to cope with a warmer world.
I hope this is true because then my property in Toronto will be worth even more, haha! But I fear that summers will be warmer, but winter storms will get more extreme. Isn’t climate change supposed to cause more extreme extremes?
Too cold...a good point. I'm in the Chicago area, a native, and enjoy all four seasons but the combination of cold and overcast skies are what drive the typical Chicagoan south either to Arizona or Florida. Air conditioning having made that attractive. When I observe the growing water problem in AZ/CA/NV and the continual hurricanes in LA/FL I scratch my head in wonder at how strong is the desire to leave a not dangerous frying pan (cold/blizzards are tolerable) for the fire (no water, hurricanes).
I spent some time in Alberta this winter, it got to negative 40 degrees celsius somedays. It was actually bearable and even somewhat refreshing although to live there requires the modern world of cheap energy and supply chains to stay intact.
—40 is soooo 🥶🥶🥶🥶 Agreed that it requires a lot and beyond cheap energy, one also needs expensive outerwear designed for the arctic. Those Canada Goose jackets don’t come cheap!
And where the Canadian population is concentrated, in the southernmost part of the country, shows where most want to live, or at least where they must live to be part of the economy.
Nice article Murtaza. I've enjoyed reading your Goodreads reviews for a few years now, but never realised you were Canadian.
One way Canada has more soft-influence than it might realise is through its laws. We often look to the Canadian system as a starting point. To take two New Zealand examples off the top of my head, the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 was based on Canadian law, and when the current government sought to reform the abortion law, the New Zealand Law Commission presented them with 3 options, one of which was again based on the laws in Canada.
I know less about Australia. But given the broadly similar contours of the histories and legal systems of all three nations, it would not surprise me if Canada has that same kind of influence there. So while Canada may orbit the United States, there will always be even smaller countries orbiting Canada!
I've always been somewhat interested in Canada for its particular style of multiculturalism, but it's only in the last couple years that I've started to give any thought towards Canada's greater role in the world. Your Substack reviews have definitely encouraged me to think more about this subject. And I think you're definitely on to something: Canada may very well emerge as a greater global player in the coming decades.
I will say that Canada seems to enjoy a very positive reputation abroad, much more so than the US these days, at least in Germany. I'm fairly well connected to German media and culture, and Germans tend to have a very positive view of Canada. I think this stems from a generally positive predisposition towards the Anglo countries, but is further supported given Canada's largely steered clear of the foreign policy disasters and populist uprisings we've seen in the US and UK in the last 20 years. Germans have been even more interested in Canada lately as a possible supplier of natural resources, a much more reliable and humane (if distant) alternative to Russia. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw more partnership and engagement between the EU and Canada in the coming years.
To conclude, I'll just add that I think a "Maximum Canada" could also be a great thing for the United States. At a very general level, I think the US suffers from a lack of peer nations. We have close international partners, of course---mostly in Western Europe and East Asia---but those places are too far away, and Americans have too little vacation time, for most of us to ever build any sort of meaningful relationship with them. Obviously (and regrettably) there are many forces at play that prevent many US-Americans from taking Latin America as seriously as they should. This lack of substantive engagement with other countries is an issue, in my opinion, because it shrinks the collective US imagination of what's possible in terms of public policy, culture, etc. In other words, it breeds complacency. Some visible competition with Canada, even if only in terms of health, infrastructure, and immigration, could help dismantle that political and cultural cloud of ignorance that hangs over so much of the United States. Though, if I'm being honest, I could also imagine that US superiority complex / contempt for Canada, which you allude to, blocking or discrediting the sort of meaningful dialogue and engagement with Canada hat I'd like to see. Indeed, it seems that more or less accurately describes the current US-Canadian relationship, at least at a popular level.
I agree – even the Minimum Canada we have today sometimes operates as a counterpoint in terms of healthcare and gun control. The issue is that it's so small that it's possible to dismiss as being not a real country worthy of comparison with the United States. I expect the United States to experience major social changes over the coming decades as well and if the anti-immigration backlash subsides its population should grow too. I think this may be the make or break issue for American future preeminence.
Only one problem—few want to live where it’s that cold. I’m speaking from the personal experience of having lived in Toronto too.
My feeling is that if the US suddenly offered instant citizenship to all Canadians, soooo many would leave for sunnier skies. What percentage do you think would leave?
One thing I noticed is that it's gotten progressively warmer there over the years, likely as a result of anthropogenic climate change. Another reason that I think Canada will do well in years to come is that it has ample water resources and temperate climate to cope with a warmer world.
I hope this is true because then my property in Toronto will be worth even more, haha! But I fear that summers will be warmer, but winter storms will get more extreme. Isn’t climate change supposed to cause more extreme extremes?
It will be drier in places its dry and precipitate more in damper places.
Too cold...a good point. I'm in the Chicago area, a native, and enjoy all four seasons but the combination of cold and overcast skies are what drive the typical Chicagoan south either to Arizona or Florida. Air conditioning having made that attractive. When I observe the growing water problem in AZ/CA/NV and the continual hurricanes in LA/FL I scratch my head in wonder at how strong is the desire to leave a not dangerous frying pan (cold/blizzards are tolerable) for the fire (no water, hurricanes).
Yes, but most of Canada is colder than Chicago and almost uninhabitable due to extreme cold and snow.
I spent some time in Alberta this winter, it got to negative 40 degrees celsius somedays. It was actually bearable and even somewhat refreshing although to live there requires the modern world of cheap energy and supply chains to stay intact.
—40 is soooo 🥶🥶🥶🥶 Agreed that it requires a lot and beyond cheap energy, one also needs expensive outerwear designed for the arctic. Those Canada Goose jackets don’t come cheap!
And where the Canadian population is concentrated, in the southernmost part of the country, shows where most want to live, or at least where they must live to be part of the economy.
Nice article Murtaza. I've enjoyed reading your Goodreads reviews for a few years now, but never realised you were Canadian.
One way Canada has more soft-influence than it might realise is through its laws. We often look to the Canadian system as a starting point. To take two New Zealand examples off the top of my head, the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 was based on Canadian law, and when the current government sought to reform the abortion law, the New Zealand Law Commission presented them with 3 options, one of which was again based on the laws in Canada.
I know less about Australia. But given the broadly similar contours of the histories and legal systems of all three nations, it would not surprise me if Canada has that same kind of influence there. So while Canada may orbit the United States, there will always be even smaller countries orbiting Canada!
Very interesting! It makes sense under our shared common law tradition..
Why do you want Canada to habe nuclear weapons?
I'm just kidding