William Watson: The Era of Soft Power Is Over, Canada Must Embrace Hard Power
In a compelling critique of Canada's foreign policy approach, columnist William Watson asserts that the concept of soft power has become obsolete. He argues that for Canada to have meaningful influence on the global stage, it must back its moral messages with substantial hard power capabilities.
The Annoyance of Canadian Preachiness
The discussion begins with reference to David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Daily Telegraph, who recently expressed frustration with Canada's persistent preachiness in international affairs. Blair noted that during his time in the U.K. government, he began wondering whether Canada might be "the most annoying country in the world" due to its sanctimonious approach to foreign policy.
Specific examples highlighted include:
- Canada's promotion of a "feminist foreign policy" during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- The renaming of the foreign ministry to Global Affairs Canada to avoid the word "foreign"
- Canadian ministers consistently outdoing European counterparts in self-righteousness
Watson points to what he calls "peak annoyance" when Canada forced the Trans-Pacific Partnership to become the "Comprehensive and Progressive" TPP, an act he describes as empty symbolism.
The Shift to Great Power Jockeying
Despite Canada's preachy reputation, Watson acknowledges that a Canadian prime minister made a significant contribution at Davos by addressing the insufficiency of soft-power doctrines in today's geopolitical landscape. This recognition comes as international relations have devolved into what the U.S. National Security Strategy terms "great power jockeying."
Watson questions whether the Canadian government should comment on every "unacceptable" action by foreign governments, especially when Canada often ends up accepting these actions regardless. He emphasizes that the primary function of the foreign ministry should be to manage relations with other countries rather than to instruct them.
Guidelines for Effective Foreign Policy
Watson proposes several guidelines for Canada to increase its international influence:
- Recognize that other countries dislike foreign interference just as much as Canada does. Fellow democracies should generally receive the benefit of doubt and silence rather than criticism.
- Distinguish between citizen expression and official government statements. While Canadians should remain free to denounce whatever they choose, official government commentary should be more selective and strategic.
- Pick spots carefully rather than commenting on everything. Watson suggests that before restricting social media access for children, the government might consider rationing its own social media use for foreign policy statements.
- Utilize private channels alongside public statements. In an age of instant digital communication, the traditional strategy of pursuing private diplomatic channels remains valuable for achieving actual policy goals rather than merely scoring rhetorical points.
The Need for Hard Power Backing
The central thesis of Watson's argument is that moral messages alone carry little weight in contemporary international relations. He contends that if Canada wants other countries to take its positions seriously, it must "ante up with hard power"—meaning tangible military, economic, and diplomatic resources that can back up its principles with real consequences.
Watson concludes that Canada should preach less and carry a bigger stick, recognizing that in today's world of great power competition, soft power without hard power backing is essentially powerless. The column serves as a call for a more realistic and effective approach to Canadian foreign policy that acknowledges the changing dynamics of global influence.
