There is growing confidence among emerging countries, and "a requirement on their part for respect from us." In this way, we will have to change.

Historically, Canada's international interventions in places like Africa, Asia and the Americas were lead by missionaries. And while Clark believes much good came from those interventions, there was usually an element of proselytizing, and effort "to encourage and inculcate what they believe is a better way."

A similar "proselytizing instinct" has been part of the motive of western nations engaged in international development, and in pushing for governance or economic reforms in other countries.

"We hoped to change the beliefs and behaviour of their citizens, not simply work with them as they are," Clark said, adding that many Canadians accept this attitude as natural. It can, however, be counterproductive.

"Those motives … reflect an assumption of superiority which can be counterproductive now," he said. "Our contemporary partners have more confidence in their own learning and experience. And a sense of superiority blunts our own capacity to examine and improve the way we work."

A "middle power" country like Canada has a larger role to play in the world than ever before, he said. The tensions between dominate powers lead them to narrow their focus, and limit their capacity to lead or stimulate change.

"Middle powers, by contrast, often have much more flexibility in opening new dialogues, in reaching across existing boundaries to encourage the skeptical or constrained to explore new options," he said.

In answer to questions from the Rozanski Hall audience, Clark said he is hopeful that Canada will now work harder to foster respect and equity for its Aboriginal citizens, and build a better, more respectful relationship between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people in this country.

While these are troubling times, Clark said they are not the most threatening times humanity has faced.

"And we should be conscious of the progress we have made together, and the ways we have faced and surmounted past threats," he said. "We live in a world where positive change can happen, and does happen."

roflanagan@guelphmercury.com