Taking Conrad Black Seriously
| Published date | 01 June 1998 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070209805300210 |
| Author | Andrew Cohen |
| Date | 01 June 1998 |
| Subject Matter | The Readers' Column |
Taking
Conrad
Black
seriously
Andrew Cohen
Foreign
Correspondent
for
the
Globe
and
Mail
based
in
Washington,
D.C
W~that
is
most
refreshing
about
Conrad
Black's
vision
of
Canada
in
the
world
(winter
1997-8)
is
that
he has
a
vision
at
all.
This
alone
sets
him
apart
from
the
political
class.
Our
parochial
internation-
alism imagines
Canada
abroad
as
little
more
than
a
trader
and
investor,
convinced
that
foreign
policy
is
only
trade
policy.
To
project
a
sense
of
self
beyond
our
shores
-
or,
more
boldly,
to
declare
a
projet
de
soci&6
-
strikes
these
Little
Canadians
as
rising
above
their
station.
Thinking
big
makes
them
feel
as
insecure
as
an
arriviste
among
aris-
tocrats,
and
in
a
nation
of
nay-sayers
and
life-insurers,
we
cannot
abide
that.
Thankfully,
Black rejects
such
stifling
reserve.
He
proposes
that
Canada
become
a
'substantial
positive
force
in
the
world
in
its
own
right.'
To
remain
a
middle
power
-
in
league
with
Holland,
Scandi-
navia,
and
Australia
-
simply
isn't
good
enough
for
a
people
blessed
with
geography
and history.
Black
truly wants
Canada
to
be
more
than
that,
which
is
reason
enough
to
cheer.
How
to
take
our
place
as
'a
first
level
power?'
To
begin,
Black
urges
Canada
to
put
its
house
in
order
by
resolving
the
enduring
question
of
Quebec,
largely by
showing
firmness
toward
the
separatists,
and
stop-
ping
the
brain
drain
to
the
United'States,
largely by
creating
a
society
that
rewards
initiative.
He
also
wants
to
make
the
governor
general
into
a
head
of
state, renewing
an
antiquated
monarchy
which
is
long
over-
due.
In
Canada,
Black
sees
the
elements
of
greatness:
a
bountiful
land,
an
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
Spring 1998
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