Evidence of meeting #138 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was democratic.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Anne Applebaum  Professor of Practice, Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics and Political Science, As an Individual
Rafal Pankowski  Co-Founder, Never Again Association
Daniel Ziblatt  Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, Center for European Studies, Harvard University, As an Individual
Michael Williams  Professor, International Politics, University of Ottawa, As an Individual

10:15 a.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Guy Caron

Thank you very much.

Professor Williams.

10:15 a.m.

Professor, International Politics, University of Ottawa, As an Individual

Michael Williams

I think one of the crucial things here—and this is something you know more about than I do—is political rhetoric. It's vital not to allow the right to cast every issue within the overarching logic that they wish to do. And the overarching logic that they wish to do is to cast every issue within either a national or a global culture war. A crucial thing is to try to disallow them from occupying that political landscape.

The most effective interventions I've seen with the radical right are those that try to push them on precisely what they would do. But one can make the mistake of playing into the framing of the issue that they have already established, because they actually have an ideological framework, because they have a systematic rhetoric, they understand exactly the moves that are useful for them.

I'll give you one example on this that I really like. It comes from Mr. Steve Bannon. He has a wonderful line that whenever he's being interviewed, all he does is wait for the person to say “identity”, and as soon as they say it, he's got them. One has to avoid falling into that trap.

10:15 a.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Guy Caron

Thank you very much.

Before we adjourn, I would like to say that, if you have written questions for our witnesses, from either the first or second panel, please send them to the clerk before noon on Friday.

I would like to thank both of our guests.

I'm sorry for the shortened version of this panel, but it was really interesting.

I have a few comments to make before we leave.

Don't forget the meeting of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which will be held on Monday, May 6, at 12:15 p.m.

The deadline for written questions to the witnesses from April 30 is today at 5 p.m. Please send them in writing to the clerk.

By tomorrow, could you also confirm with the clerk your attendance at the May 8 lunch with the official from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Republic of Latvia.

Thank you very much, everyone, including our witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.