About face: explaining changes in Canada's China policy, 2006-2012

• Published in: Canadian foreign policy journal Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 146 - 162
• Main Authors: Nossal, Kim Richard, Sarson, Leah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 04.05.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: bilateralism; Canada; Canada-China relations; Commitments; Conservatism; Conservative Party of Canada; Economic Crises; Economic crisis; Elections; Foreign Policy; foreign policy change; Implementation; International Cooperation; Left Wing Politics; Peoples Republic of China; Stephen Harper; Canada; China
• ISSN: 1192-6422; 2157-0817
• DOI: 10.1080/11926422.2014.934864

From the "strategic partnership" of the mid-2000s, the Canada-China relationship deteriorated rapidly after the election of the Conservative government of Stephen Harper in January 2006. The Harper government left no doubt that it had little desire to cooperate with the government in Beijing, and the Chinese government reciprocated with a series of snubs directed at Ottawa. By 2009, however, the Harper government abruptly changed its approach and both sides demonstrated a renewed commitment to constructive engagement. Using the literature on foreign policy change, we explore the endogenous and exogenous reasons for this turn, focusing on the implementation of a new Conservative brand of foreign policy, Ottawa's response to the global financial crisis, and the salience of the particular people-to-people links that form the backbone of the bilateral relationship.