Facing worrying rhetoric by US President Donald Trump, news has turned its attention to Canada's military, with a notable trend of pointing towards the positives of conscription. Two of these articles, published from both sides of the political spectrum, suggest mandatory service as a partial solution. But even the best version of this argument plays into jingoist nationalism. Not only does it not address the situation at hand, it directs the popular will to strengthen sovereignty into misplaced nationalist militarism. Ian Barclay, editor-in-chief of Avant-Garde Press, journalist and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, joins Scott to discuss the historical context of conscription in Canada, the faults in these arguments and how they miss the mark.
Follow Ian on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ianagp.bsky.social
Follow Scott on Socials:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/youcaughtscott.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youcaughtscott/
Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog
Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi
Sources and further reading at:
https://readthecatch.ca/when-ya-get-drafted-ft-ian-barclay-the-north-state-podcast/
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