Eric Van Rythoven
@ericvanr.bsky.social
Writing and teaching on security, diplomacy, and emotion in global politics.
At this point, it's worth reiterating just how consuming the Trump administration's desire for status actually is. Every interaction, every 'deal', every performance is calibrated to demonstrating America's dominance.
See the excellent Reinhard Wolf on this
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
See the excellent Reinhard Wolf on this
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Donald Trump’s Status-Driven Foreign Policy
The key to understanding Trump's foreign-policy outlook lies in his extreme attention to symbolism.
www.tandfonline.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
At this point, it's worth reiterating just how consuming the Trump administration's desire for status actually is. Every interaction, every 'deal', every performance is calibrated to demonstrating America's dominance.
See the excellent Reinhard Wolf on this
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
See the excellent Reinhard Wolf on this
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
The other explanation is structural and related to status.
The US sees itself as a high-status actor that others should naturally defer to. Canada has thus far refused, and even criticized the Trump administration. This is transgressive. Transgression needs to be disciplined. Ergo, f-bombs.
The US sees itself as a high-status actor that others should naturally defer to. Canada has thus far refused, and even criticized the Trump administration. This is transgressive. Transgression needs to be disciplined. Ergo, f-bombs.
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The other explanation is structural and related to status.
The US sees itself as a high-status actor that others should naturally defer to. Canada has thus far refused, and even criticized the Trump administration. This is transgressive. Transgression needs to be disciplined. Ergo, f-bombs.
The US sees itself as a high-status actor that others should naturally defer to. Canada has thus far refused, and even criticized the Trump administration. This is transgressive. Transgression needs to be disciplined. Ergo, f-bombs.
So why did Hoekstra start dropping f-bombs?
Well, one explanation is idiosyncratic: Hoekstra is not a very good ambassador and cannot competently perform diplomatic norms and practices. The criticism Hoekstra received while serving as ambassador to the Netherlands suggests this is true.
Well, one explanation is idiosyncratic: Hoekstra is not a very good ambassador and cannot competently perform diplomatic norms and practices. The criticism Hoekstra received while serving as ambassador to the Netherlands suggests this is true.
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
So why did Hoekstra start dropping f-bombs?
Well, one explanation is idiosyncratic: Hoekstra is not a very good ambassador and cannot competently perform diplomatic norms and practices. The criticism Hoekstra received while serving as ambassador to the Netherlands suggests this is true.
Well, one explanation is idiosyncratic: Hoekstra is not a very good ambassador and cannot competently perform diplomatic norms and practices. The criticism Hoekstra received while serving as ambassador to the Netherlands suggests this is true.
On a more serious note, we now have burgeoning literature on diplomatic impoliteness including the use of humour, insults, and mockery in international politics. See for example, one of my favorites by Rousseau (@eleonorre.bsky.social) and Baele
academic.oup.com/isr/article-...
academic.oup.com/isr/article-...
“Filthy Lapdogs,” “Jerks,” and “Hitler”: Making Sense of Insults in International Relations
Abstract. This paper offers an original theoretical framework for the study of insults in international relations (IR). Bringing into IR the two main theor
academic.oup.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
On a more serious note, we now have burgeoning literature on diplomatic impoliteness including the use of humour, insults, and mockery in international politics. See for example, one of my favorites by Rousseau (@eleonorre.bsky.social) and Baele
academic.oup.com/isr/article-...
academic.oup.com/isr/article-...
Maybe it could start by not cutting its classes on Canadian foreign policy?
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Maybe it could start by not cutting its classes on Canadian foreign policy?
Previously, the belief was that the prospect of greater security cooperation would give Canada extra leverage in trade negotiations. Now, it looks like it doesn't.
If that's the case, then how does the Carney government expect to get a deal on sectoral tariffs--something no other gov't has done?
If that's the case, then how does the Carney government expect to get a deal on sectoral tariffs--something no other gov't has done?
October 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Previously, the belief was that the prospect of greater security cooperation would give Canada extra leverage in trade negotiations. Now, it looks like it doesn't.
If that's the case, then how does the Carney government expect to get a deal on sectoral tariffs--something no other gov't has done?
If that's the case, then how does the Carney government expect to get a deal on sectoral tariffs--something no other gov't has done?
You can read my work on Mockery, Diplomacy, and Canada-U.S. relations here for free academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
You can read my work on Mockery, Diplomacy, and Canada-U.S. relations here for free academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...
The problem for the Canadian gov't, and every other government, is that dealing with Trump is like walking on egg shells. Even the smallest act of criticism, the smallest act of dissent, can trigger a campaign of vindictive retribution.
This strongly undercuts that value of any 'deal'
This strongly undercuts that value of any 'deal'
October 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The problem for the Canadian gov't, and every other government, is that dealing with Trump is like walking on egg shells. Even the smallest act of criticism, the smallest act of dissent, can trigger a campaign of vindictive retribution.
This strongly undercuts that value of any 'deal'
This strongly undercuts that value of any 'deal'