| |
Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Straight talk on "neoconservatism"
Steve Paikin's The Agenda has again shown why it is the best public affairs show on Canadian TV (and no, I'm not saying that because I was on it once.)
If you have a spare hour this weekend, this episode is well worth watching. (Video on the left side of the screen is "Mike Harris - The Death of Neoconservatism".)
The first part of the show is a one-on-one talk with Mike Harris, who clearly articulates what a modern vision of conservatism should look like.
The second half is a debate on neoconservatism -- what that term is, what it means, and who is one today. I really wish ever political science professor and journalist in Canada could watch this show. Each of the guests, with the exception of Colin Moores (whoever he is) were very insightful -- especially Clifford Orwin, who is one of the only people who could truly be considered a neocon or "Straussian" in the country.
The word neoconservatism is a much abused and overused term in Canada. I wanted to bring this up when I was on The Agenda. The fact is, as Orwin noted, there basically is no such thing as Canadian neoconservatism. Mike Harris is not, as Orwin explained, a neoconservative. John Baird is not a neoconservative, as he was labelled on the lead-in clip on the show I did. I am not a neoconservative. To be "neo" anything, one must have had to be something else first. I have never been anything other than conservative, and as far as I know, neither has John Baird, Tony Clement or Mike Harris or any of the other people usually labelled as Canadian neocons.
Watch the whole show.
UPDATE: Classic abuse of the term in today's Globe by John Ibbitson, who should know better:
For as long as the Conservatives remain in power, Ottawa's raison d'être will be to increase economic competitiveness while shrinking the federal government's own fiscal presences. This is as close as Canada is ever going to get to genuine neo-conservatism.
This is mixing up what is actual conservatism with neoconservatism.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:29 AM
|
