Abstract
This is the first issue in the 75th volume of International Journal, Canada’s oldest and best-known journal on international politics. This anniversary issue is an opportunity to reflect on the journal’s traditions and legacies, but also a time for transitions and new opportunities. This is our first issue with Greg Donaghy serving as one of the two co-editors in chief, and Susan Colbourn as editor of the “Lessons of History” feature. Much to look forward to.
We’re also looking back and are happy to formally announce here the winners of the three essay prizes for contributors to the journal. For 2019, the $1,000 SAGE Prize for International Scholarship, awarded annually for the best article on international affairs, goes to Louise Riis Andersen, for her article, “Curb your enthusiasm: Middle-power liberal internationalism and the future of the United Nations.” Also from the March 2019 issue is our winner for the $1,000 Marcel Cadieux Award for the best article on Canadian foreign policy: Peter Jones’ “Middle power liberal internationalism and mediation in messy places: The Canadian dilemma.” And this year’s $1,000 Marvin Gelber Essay Prize, for the best article by a junior scholar, has been awarded to Michael de Groot, for his essay, “Western Europe and the collapse of Bretton Woods” (June 2019). Congratulations to this year’s winners on their impressive contributions to the study of international relations.
This issue begins with the question of whether the study of International Relations in Canada has been thoroughly “Americanized,” and what the prospects are for more “homegrown” IR in this country. Michael Murphy and Michael Wigginton cut into this debate in a new way, by looking at the reading lists for comprehensive exams in Canadian PhD programs, and—more specifically—the degree to which those lists are dominated by American journals. That’s followed by Aaron Ettinger’s look at contemporary US foreign policy debates, and the question of whether we are seeing the emergence of a coherent “left-wing” or “progressive” foreign policy agenda within the Democratic primary race. Ettinger takes a close look at the foreign policy platforms of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, contrasts them with that of Joe Biden, and makes the case that a new left/progressive agenda is taking shape. Next is Paul Meyer’s reflection on the recent history of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Meyer tracks Canada’s efforts to try to strengthen the accountability mechanisms in the NPT, assesses their effectiveness, and looks ahead to the further evolution of the regime. And finally, we have Tim Donais and Eric Tanguay’s article on the United Nations’ peacekeeping reform agenda. Donais and Tanguay support the commitments to “protection of civilians” made after the 1990s but worry that there’s a growing mismatch between ambitious political commitments and ever-tightening financial constraints.
Peacekeeping is also at issue in this issue’s Policy Brief, by Walter Dorn and Robin Collins. Dorn and Collins tackle the vexed question, does peacekeeping work? After a thorough review of the existing evidence, their answer is clear: it does. This issue’s “Lessons of History” essay is Daniel Manulak’s study of the Mulroney government’s approach to South Africa in the late 1980s. Based on interviews with many of the key players, Manulak concludes that the Mulroney government made a significant contribution to the transformation of South Africa, particularly in sustaining political momentum after sanctions had been imposed and the world’s attention was starting to turn elsewhere.
Last but not least, we have reviews of seven important new books, including Graeme Thompson’s review of A.G. Hopkins’ American Empire: A Global History, Hans Christian Breede’s review of Stanley R. Barrett’s The Lamb and the Tiger: From Peacekeepers to Peacewarriors in Canada, and Hongying Wang’s review of Paul Blustein’s Schism: China, America, and the Fracturing of the Global Trading System. Please refer to the Table of Contents for the full list of reviews.