Sharmistha Dasgupta: A Myriad Quill Canvas

When the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stood on the stage of World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026 and declared that the global order was experiencing “rupture, not a transition”, he challenged a bunch of assumptions and norms of the neo-liberal world order. His speech was a wake-up call for middle powers like Canada to stop waiting for protection under old alliances and step into a more assertive, autonomous role on the world stage. It served as a reminder of the tricky times we are living in currently. With the White House reframing the meaning of diplomacy, countries across the world are struggling to find a balance between respecting their sovereignty and tipping their hat to the White House to protect their sovereignty. The last one year has shown how hard of a juggle that can be. It also made me ponder on how hard it must be for immigrants to hold on to their respect for their roots at a time where the White House has been kindling xenophobia. Not to forget how MAGA has managed to portray its imperialist core in a span of one year as well.

“Every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great-power rivalry,” Carney said. “That the rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”

At a time where there are regular debates on what is political, I strongly believe every aspect of our life is political. Ongoing global policies shape individual behaviour. Art cultivates collective sentiment. Power dynamics enforce stereotypes.

Carney’s speech provided a lens on how we should take ownership of our own identity at a time where contemporary policies may induce us to blur the lines. It made me go back to a sitcom I thoroughly enjoyed watching during my college days, How I Met Your Mother. In the web series, Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) was a Canadian living in the US. She was an early-career broadcast journalist living with her friends Ted (Joshy Radnor), Marshall (Jason Segel), Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). The show is strewn with stereotypes against Canada disguised as humour. But nonetheless, we see Robin offer her own humorous yet surprisingly poignant commentary on what it means to occupy a middle ground: straddling national identities, challenging stereotypes and claiming agency in the face of dismissiveness.

Identity and Agency:

Carney argued how the middle powers must choose agency over passivity. He said, “You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration, when integration becomes the source of your subordination.” Of course, here he referred to how American hegemony provided the world with “public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for framework for resolving disputes”. Carney argues how Canada (and the middle powers) thus “participated in the rituals and avoided calling out the gaps between rhetoric and reality”. He rightfully then says how this “bargain no longer exists”. He seems to have provided a framework on how the middle powers must anchor on their resources to gain leverage.

Just as how Carney tried to reframe Canada’s position in the current world order, Robin redefined what it meant to be Canadian among her American friends. A highlight would be how in the episode “Duel Citizenship”, when Robin faced threats of deportation and her only choice was to become a US citizen, she refused to forego her roots even if it came at the cost of losing on a future she had envisioned for herself. The episode also portrayed how hard it often becomes for an immigrant to feel like that they have no place where they belong. Ultimately, she chooses a dual citizenship scheme, thus reclaiming her agency both as a Canadian where she is from and of America where she wants to build her future in.

Challenging Stereotypes:

At Davos, Carney argues how “the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient”. Stereotypes are largely born out of imbalanced power dynamics in the society. Robin was largely the butt of endless jokes throughout the span of nine seasons. Whether it was how pop culture trends were late to arrive in Canada, or gang’s fixation with maple syrup as a staple complement to meals in Canada, or even children playing hockey pictured in Canadian currency which Barney joked was a deliberate woo for American contempt, the jokes were a defining aspect of the entire series.

Yet we see how Robin never lets her identity shrink. She doesn’t just defend Canada – she participates in the jokes confidently, making fun of stereotypes herself and owning them. Her snappy lines and her ability to laugh at herself are part of how she stands up to the teasing without losing her dignity.

Belonging in a Changing World: Personal and Political:

At a time where national borders are more prone to dissipating, we seem to have long crossed the threshold of a new epoch of perils that it brings. The current conditions seem to be urging us to reclaim our roots, heritage, customs as well as the quirks that makes a person or a community “odd”.

Also, I believe soft power plays a major role in dictating collective behaviour, whether its in social groups or in the global arena. To what extent can it be termed as “soft”, is another question that is increasingly becoming more important. The current geo-political climate beckons us to act with consideration and not contempt both in personal and political spaces. Carney stressed on the importance of adaptation in the face of adversity. When whim is the order of the fractured hour, acting with integrity is the only trump card. Maybe, it always was.