Friday , April 19 2024

A plan to save the liberal global order in 250 characters or less

In this fast-paced world with news happening every minute of every day, it is hard to keep abreast of it all. After all, how does one find the time?

The liberal world is seized by some form of ennui. Leaders are unable to articulate a vision of a world that would preserve the values of free and fair trade, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for the rights of the individual.

Against this backdrop, we are often told that attention spans are shrinking to the point that anything more involved than a 30-second sound clip or social media post is lost to the masses.

Those of us who contribute to the Daily Globe are grateful that readers like you have not succumbed to these intellectual short cuts, and that you support more than a glib tag line or slogan.

But, in an effort to grow our base, we do – from time to time – have to engage in some superficial sketch.

The truth, of course, is that after a hectic week of juggling the office with my local councilor duties – and indulging in some over the counter remedy for back pain  – I’m just too darn tired to write another multi-paragraph treatise on how the CANZUK nations, in strategic partnership with key allies, could help buttress the liberal international order against a rising tide of illiberal and repressive regimes.

So, I’m offering it in emojis.

 

Image

In other words…

CANZUK plus Singapore, India, the US and Japan is greater than Russia + China

Visuals simple enough for those who are feeling stressed about the world, but are not keen on sifting through complicated briefs… like politicians and bureaucrats.

About Brent Cameron

A writer and commentator on Commonwealth trade issues, Brent Cameron is the author of 'The Case for Commonwealth Free Trade' (2004, 2018) and numerous essays and articles. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Commonwealth Exchange, a London, UK-based research group. Cameron worked as Telecommunications Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Labour in Ottawa, Canada before joining SES Canada Research (now Nanos Research) as a Research Associate. He also worked as an assistant to former Ontario MPP Harry Danford, Member for Hastings-Peterborough and Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Cameron was a member of the Advance Team for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney during the 1988 Canadian federal general election. During the 2007 Ontario Referendum on Electoral Reform, he acted as Coordinator for the 'No MMP' campaign for eastern Ontario (excluding Ottawa). Cameron has also served as a member and contributing columnist on the Community Editorial Board of the Kingston (ON) Whig-Standard newspaper. He holds an honours degree in politics from Queen's University and a Certificate in Municipal Administration from St. Lawrence College (Kingston, ON). In 2014, Brent Cameron was elected to the municipal council for the Township of Central Frontenac, in southeastern Ontario, Canada, and serving as Deputy Mayor in 2017.

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2 comments

  1. Phil from Oz

    I’m an Aussie, and I to, want a world that values ” free and fair trade, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for the rights of the individual”. That is what the Anglosphere, and the CANZIK countries in particular stand for, and have fought for side by side. Those ideals are today under threat, from the rise of authoritarian powers, but sadly, also internally from the left in our own societies.
    I believe though that there is hope, and there are more friendly countries on side even than those mentioned. Count in, I would argue, those non EU countries like the Nordic/Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, and others like Israel and Sth Korea.
    Perhaps part of the answer is to pivot away from China as the default manufacturing base? India, many SE Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, or even some African and Sth American countries could supply what China does to the West, and their living standards and well being would greatly benefit as well.

  2. We must pull together to ensure that Individualism survives the next 2 decades.

    Communitarianism and Corporatism are raising their ugly heads again now that we are two generations away from WWII. The rallying cry is Freedom! As it has ever been for Canadians, Brits, Americans, Australians, Kiwis..