Le Canada face aux transitions de puissance à travers ses énoncés politiques, 1964–2017
ABSTRACT One of the most heated debates in international relations today is the relative decline of the United States in the face of China’s rise. Dubbed “post-American,” this system calls into question the international order supported by the United States for more than half a century. To better understand the challenge that such a power transition may pose for Canada, this article looks back to see how Canadian governments have perceived and adapted to systemic changes. The article examines perceptions of polarity and their threatening nature, as well as national roles and implementation strategies as stated in foreign and defence policy statements published between 1964 and 2017. Two main findings stand out. First, the Canadian perception of the international structure has emphasized multipolarity for more than 50 years. Second, the predominant national role in Canada has ranged from being a reliable ally of the United States to being a good citizen of the world. This suggests that a shift in Canada’s national role is likely to occur even though Canada’s internationalist strategies will remain constant despite the perception of a global power transition to the East.