Introduction
Canada’s 23rd prime minister, who got attention for his active style of management, progressive thinking, and being the person who isn’t afraid and takes part in international affairs, is Justin Trudeau. Justin Trudeau is the son of Pierre Trudeau, the ex-prime minister of Canada; his rise to power was a life-threatening experience in politics. Consistent with the requirements of current leadership models, his charismatic, empathetic, and inclusive leadership style gives some insight into dealing with issues of modern leadership relationships. It provides insight into good governance and values-driven leaders on Trudeau’s burning eagerness for progressive policies, such as gender parity, diversity, and environmental conservation. The hands-on experience of Trudeau as Minister of International Trade and Minister of Foreign Affairs, especially his ambassador of multilateralism and human rights, greatly helps to know how diplomacy and multiple cooperation can work on complex topics of today’s world. The evidence of the path Justin Trudeau followed lets us understand the complexity of leadership.
Background and Family Legacy
Justin was born on 25 December 1971, and that was a special day for the family of Canadian history (Nemni & Nemni, 2011). On their first appearance, his background could have been more exceptional. He was born to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. During his entire childhood, he was in public service. Thus, from his social life, he started seeing the administration of the state from an entirely different perspective. Father’s legacy and his most considerable burden were not only the beginning but also the most essential part of his father’s life for Trudeau. Pierre Trudeau, who would be one of the Prime Ministers of Canada, is going to be forever associated with his leftist views and creative government approaches, and this is what allowed him to contribute to the politics of the country. Trudeau’s vision of this new country was founded on liberalism, tolerance, and justice. This very opinion is what has shaped Trudeau in both his personal and political life. He grew up in a family that believed in such progressive principles of fairness for all Canadians (Trudeau, 2014). Trudeau’s life rules are the result of lessons from his childhood. He openly depicts how crucial his father is in his life because his father was the most prominent political figure in Canada, and it is through his father’s political legacy that Trudeau has a head start to his political career. The corresponding ways and implementations of his convictions about social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic equality point out him as a liberal who is all concerned about his values and diversity. Trudeau knew not only that there were contrasting approaches to public service and government among his relations but also about the opposing sides of it. As a result of his own experiences, Trudeau accumulated a great deal of wisdom regarding the great responsibility that is placed on a leader through the story of his family’s past. He found his current political career’s source of inspiration.
Education and Early Career
Many vital events marked his childhood, and early work experience became his source of inspiration to develop his vision and style of government. It was evident that Trudeau possessed a distinct type of curiosity when he elected to opt out of the usual route of learning and go for engineering, education, and poetry. He has a BA degree from McGill University and the University of British Columbia (Trudeau, 2014). With this multi-perspective education process, he mastered broad-mindedness and acquired the critical reasoning ability that made him cling to political missions. The teaching that was his day-to-day job made him good at dealing with different kinds of people; nevertheless, his talent for literary analysis provided him with an ability to clearly and concisely represent complicated ideas.
Trudeau finished his education and got a teaching job, and all the while, he developed a lifestyle around topics such as education or youth. He devoted his whole life to the pursuit of social integration and community engagement (Nemni & Nemni, 2011). Through his work, many youths learned to take their destiny into their own hands and become successful. Hence, he knew how to see the social problems that existed, like inclusiveness and social justice, only that Canada faced them. His school days made him passionate about the country, and he was able to comprehend all the problems that the government was facing. Trudeau had grown to appreciate the role of education, and in different ways, education had been influencing people and the community at large. It was a mission to look for a place where all were welcome, and the youth would have a podium to share their ideas boiling down to a blueprint. First, employment and learning opportunities were the foundation on which Trudeau built a fantastic career as a Canadian politician. Through his vibrant educational background and his sporadic political participation in his community, Trudeau knows the problems most Canadian people face and intends to do his best to make Canada a better place where all people have equal rights. No one is deprived of the possibilities of his advancement.
Political Awakening and Activism
Despite the fact that their glorious past of homily molded the path Omouldedeau took in Canadian politics, his leveling became his unique feature because he broke the tradition and invented a new way of politics in his country. In 2008, Trudeau became one of the MPs in the constituency of Papineau. During this period, he symbolized the beginning of a new family story. From the very first time he was associated with the Liberal Party, Trudeau displayed his leadership qualities and his firmness in realizing his progressive ideas (Trudeau, 2014). He entered politics in order to represent the people’s interests to the country as a whole and to be at a point directly connecting people. From that, Trudeau was taken as integrating and conciliating because of his capability to handle the differences and make the different factions work together as one. Justin Trudeau was elected as a leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 2013, and the new political journey started. Through his youth, appeal, and modern agenda, he changed the perception of the party, which was their old image, and he gave the people hope and desire to be part of the party. Besides his firm courage and the comprehensive political strategy that he applied, the hearts of the Canadians, especially the young ones, admired him for his civilization and progressive Canada. The people of Canada saw the birth of the visionary role of Trudeau in Canadian politics in 2015 during his engagement in the 2015 Canadian federal election campaign (Nemni & Nemni, 2011). The election platforms of the Liberal party were based on the core values of progressivism and fundamental change, which made them the winner of an overwhelming victory and ended the rule of the Conservative party for nearly ten years. The majority government was gained. He was a man whose most distinguishing feature was the way he treated everyone equally by giving more attention to the issues of social justice, economic equality, and global warming. Trudeau’s qualities as a leader, his quick political judgments, and his devotion to liberalism can be seen throughout his political journey. Today, one example of Justin Trudeau’s philosophy that all Canadians should have the opportunity to pursue their aspirations and dreams in a democratic and pluralist environment is his journey from being elected to the House of Commons and MP from Papineau as the Canadian Prime Minister.
Leadership and Vision
Over his tenure as the prime minister of Canada, his leadership style has been revealed as a combination of charisma, empathy, and pragmatism. As he took the post of PM, he had always been a very polite and honest person who believed in getting along with anyone from the grass-root level of society. Due to his good interpersonal skills, he is regarded as a leader who can compromise with his friends and foes. He advocates for diversity as one of the essential pillars of his governance, as evident in his cabinet selection. Her choice of a gender-neutral cabinet, the first in the Canadian parliament’s history, demonstrates an accurate representation of women in positions of power and consequence, which can never be questioned (Nemni & Nemni, 2011). The same goes for others who are from different ethnic groups and nations; they have different experiences in Canada. These interventions, besides Canada’s role in democracy progress, will also emphasize that democracy should be inclusive so that it can be sustained.
Another strong point is Trudeau’s bravery in taking on the complex and unpopular tasks that even his political opponents stand against. He preaches about the adoption of different advancement policies that solve significant problems in the country and internationally. On the one hand, Trudeau is trying to make a substantial, permanent change in climate change prevention, reconciliation with indigenous people, and justice promotion (Trudeau, 2014). Trudeau is an exceptional international leader who enhances Canada’s reputation through his contributions to human rights violations and environmental conservation issues. He piloted the Canadian struggle with climate change, which included introducing carbon pricing, developing renewables, and taking other significant steps, and the result was extraordinary. Another thing is that public support at every level, especially the general and foreign community’s support for the legalization of cannabis and the making of drug laws fairer, means that Canada is more developed and modern.
Global Engagement
Some of Trudeau’s foreign policy legacy involves maintaining his strategy of diplomacy, multilateralism, and international collaboration, which made Canada a more progressive and principled global leader (Nemni & Nemni, 2011). He has maintained consistency with his conceptualization of interdependence at the worldwide level by enhancing the bonds with critical allies as well as engaging with emerging players and non-state actors. One of the cornerstones of Trudeau’s policy for international affairs is environmental sustainability, gender equality, and human rights. Trudeau has been an active defender of human rights both at home and abroad all the time, openly condemning the abuses and fighting for the rights of unheard groups. Indeed, the feminist foreign policy of his government means to eradicate gender disparity and empower women and girls worldwide – it is nothing but a confirmation of his unwavering commitment to gender equality. Thus, Trudeau is an outspoken defender of green environmentalism and champions campaigns to halt climate change and preserve the environment for future generations.
Trudeau’s form of politics is characterized by the fact that he is open to dealing with a broad spectrum of players in the international arena. He has given communication and collaboration extra importance as he inherently knows that solving international issues requires cooperation. Along with forging new partnerships with the growing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Trudeau has made efforts to reinforce its friendship with its traditional partner, Canada, by garnering support from the US and the European Union (Trudeau, 2014). The country’s profile and pull on the international scene have ramped up with the efforts of his administration to spread Canadian diplomacy around the globe. Trudeau has been a constant advocate of multilateralism as well as bilateralism by realizing the importance of international organizations in dealing with international problems. Under Trudeau’s helming, Canada has maintained an active presence in the UN, trying to find joint solutions for pressing issues such as international health security, humanitarian aid, and conflict resolution. Trudeau’s commitment to multilateralism signifies his belief that collaboration is a way to resolve global problems and share responsibility.
Conclusion
Justin Trudeau has been on a long road to the top of the Canadian government despite taking risks, learning, and showing his determination for his progressive attitude. The mixed education and family heritage have been the primary factors that made him a multidimensional, kind, empathetic, and widely supported leader who successfully touched the hearts and minds of all Canadians. From social justice to environmental conservation or gender equality, his projects entirely showcase the world he wants to see. Moreover, Trudeau’s influence on the country’s participation in the international arena has been broader than diplomacy, multilateralism, or human rights. In fact, the image of the country as a modern and attractive country has been strengthened considerably. A significant role is played by the case study that helps MBA students who are interested in areas like leadership, diplomacy, and governance of the modern world to get motivated and inspired by Trudeau’s leadership story.
References
Nemni, M., & Nemni, M. (2011). Trudeau Transformed. McClelland & Stewart.
Trudeau, J. (2014). Common Ground: My Past, Our Present, and Canada’s Future . HarperCollins.