Ideas Flexing Canada's 'soft power' could help shift geopolitics
Feb 2, 2026
Jennifer Welsh, Canada Research Chair in Global Governance and Security and director at McGill’s public policy school, speaks on middle-power strategy and soft power. She discusses coalition-building among like-minded states. She explores Canada’s cultural and institutional assets, credibility gaps from inconsistent follow-through, and how to pair soft and hard power to rebuild trust and influence.
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Rupture Requires Middle Power Coalitions
- Mark Carney argues we are in a rupture, not a transition, demanding new coalitions of middle powers.
- Canada must act together with peers to avoid being 'on the menu' of great-power coercion.
Soft Power Is Trust-Building Capital
- Jennifer Welsh defines soft power as attraction from culture, institutions, people, and education.
- Soft power builds trust that eases coalition‑building and long-term partnerships.
Canadian Passports Open Doors In Crises
- Joanne Liu recounts checkpoints where being Canadian granted safe passage and immediate trust.
- That repeated welcome shows Canada's on-the-ground humanitarian reputation in crises.