Bob Rae speaks out on Canadian foreign policy
Liberal Member of Parliament Bob Rae delivered a timely and informative talk to about 265 students, faculty members, alumni and others packed into Concordia’s D.B. Clarke Theatre at the Henri Habib Distinguished Lecture Series on Peace, Conflict and Global Politics on February 8.
In Rae’s talk, called “A vision of Canadian foreign policy: Afghanistan, the Middle East and the World,” he underlined how important it is, in our ever shrinking world, that Canadians pay close attention to events on the other side of the globe. Crises like the 2008 U.S. subprime mortgage collapse and the recent financial instability of Ireland, Iceland and Greece affect the global economy. “And we can’t pretend that what happens in Afghanistan or Pakistan is not our concern,” Rae said. “As I like to say, Canada is in the world and the world is in us.” He added that environment is an equally shared concern. “You can’t put walls around your country which will stop pollution from flowing one way or the other.”
Rae touched on the ongoing unrest in Egypt. Western countries long accepted political systems that don’t “pass the test,” he said, in order to maintain political stability in certain regions. “This is not acceptable. History has taught us that real stability comes from real legitimacy.” Rae reported that he recently returned from Israel and the West Bank. He remains optimistic that a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian can be found but admits “it will require an historic mutual recognition.” He added that Canada can play a role in that solution. “I think Canada’s mission is to become just as good a friend of the creation of the Palestinian state as we have historically been to creation of the Jewish state, the State of Israel.”
Dean of Arts and Science Brian Lewis moderated a lively question and answer period. Rae was challenged by students and other audience members on his positions ranging from Iran to the police actions during last year’s G8 and G20 summits in Ontario. “Demonstration is not the only way of participating in our democratic life,” he said. Rae added that he welcomed debate but encouraged people “to listen to the other side.”
Concordia Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, David Graham introduced Rae and pointed out Distinguished Professor Emeritus Henri Habib, who was in attendance. Graham noted that Habib is a highly recognized Middle East scholar and authority—even Rae joked that he was intimidated speaking in Habib’s presence about the Mideast.
Habib has been associated with Concordia’s Department of Political Science for more than 50 years and was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1999. The speaker series was created in 2004 by a group Concordia alumni and friends, led by Susan Raymer, L BA 71, to honour their former professor.
Photo by: Ryan Blau/PBL Photography