Liberté

In the typology of political activists, Louise Beaudoin is a realist rather than an idealist. That is not to suggest that she does not have ideals; she is and has always been a believer in Quebec independence. Nor is it to suggest that she lacks principles; fourteen years ago, she resigned from the Parti Québécois while a member of the Assemblée nationale because she profoundly disagreed with the leader at the time, Pauline Marois.

Beaudoin is a pragmatist. Although a progressive herself, she worked to develop relationships within every segment of the political spectrum in France, from left to right. After briefly serving as unelected minister of international relations, she went to Téléfilm Canada. Despite her commitment to democracy, she dealt with dictators in the Francophonie, the French-speaking counterpart to the Commonwealth, arguing, “If we had decided only to talk to really democratic nations, there wouldn’t have been many countries around the table, even...