Middle powers must step up where Trump won’t

As Trump retreats from global leadership, middle powers have the opportunity and responsibility to tackle the climate crisis together, writes Dr Mark Beeson.

For someone famous unstable and unreliableSome things about the US President Donald Trump completely predictable.

When things don’t go as planned (which they do most of the time), it’s always someone else’s fault. The smoke currently choking major American cities is emanating from Canada; Therefore Canada is to blame.

The blame shifter’s reaction to any person or any country behaving in a way he does not like is equally predictable: react harshly, impose sanctions or, if all else fails, bomb them into submission. Canada has so far been Trump’s only annexation was considered instead of occupying.

It can’t be easy being Canada’s leader these days, and it’s no surprise Mark Carney It may keep its head down, given the volatile nature of the neighbours, but let’s not forget that some overly excited commentators have praised it recently. ‘medium power master class‘ He presented to a receptive audience in Davos.

To be fair, given all the arrogant rhetoric emanating from countries like Canada, the European Union, Britain and Australia, none of the world’s middle powers are currently displaying the kind of creative diplomacy and “thought leadership” we hope or expect. In fact, Australia was particularly enthusiastic. champion of middle power potentialbut this is generally notable for its lack of application in practice.

The rather sobering truth is that middle powers appear to be reluctant to put their heads above the parapet when it really matters and can make a difference to the growing set of global issues that characterize this historical juncture. Even more disappointing, they often seem incapable of discerning and acting on the causes of current crises.

Take the current wildfire that is literally engulfing North America. Not too controversial – otherwise Donald TrumpTo suggest, of course, that such fires are becoming more likely due to global warming. Yet Canada continues to extract oil from its tar sands, one of the largest tar sands in the world. polluting fossil fuels This not only contributes to global warming, but also directly impacts the health of Indigenous communities near mining sites.

Canadian policymakers are not the only ones who have steadfastly failed to acknowledge the links between the rapidly escalating climate crisis and the actions of highly polluting industries. In Alberta, where most mining occurs, politics is dominated by a handful of producers who pay significant amounts of taxes to the Alberta Provincial Government. lowest corporate tax rate in the country.

Canada is not the only country that has failed to solve the problems its provincial and federal governments have failed to address. Australia is one of the world’s largest users and exporters of fossil fuels, including coal. three quarters of domestic electricity.

The influence of fossil fuel companies on domestic politics is particularly evident in their ability to shape election outcomes at the federal level and “captureThe policy process in a state such as Western Australia where the political class acts in concert with the resource sector.

Under these circumstances it is entirely predictable that politicians might use the drug dealer’s defence: if we don’t, someone else will. Maybe so, but it’s all the more remarkable in a country like the UK, which has made astonishingly effective progress in decarbonising its domestic economy and phasing out coal altogether. more than that 50 percent of the UK’s electricity comes from renewable sources.

Despite this relatively impressive record, it may not last long. Britain has become a symbol of political chaos and incompetence, so there are such hopes. Andy Burnhamthe latest in an embarrassingly long line of potential saviors. However, it still seems unlikely that “King of the North” will meet the high expectations. Britain’s problems are not only deep-rooted and structural, they are also Burnham’s first policy initiatives It is to renew oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

All of this is happening while even the famously cool and wet British Isles are in the midst of an unprecedented series of events. heat wavesUnless unprecedented levels of international cooperation are mobilized to address the causes of the problem we have all helped to create, there is a possibility of more to come this year and forever.

The point to make about the three Anglosphere amigos is that it doesn’t actually have to be this way. Instead of lying and lying, they can name the problem and possibly try to do something about it together. Yes, it requires unusual political courage, but what is the alternative? It is certain that Trump will not do this.

Collective leadership won’t be easy, of course, but at least it will spread the word about accountability and possible punishment for the increasingly unhinged leader of what used to be known as the free world. It may even prove popular with domestic voters depressed by this year’s once-in-a-century “weather event.” After all, this is a time of unprecedented miracles.

Dr Mark Beeson is an adjunct professor at the University of Technology Sydney and Griffith University. He was previously Professor of International Politics at the University of Western Australia.

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