You probably know about the "Monroe Doctrine" and maybe even the "Eisenhower Doctrine", but I'm sure you've never heard of the "Trudeau Doctrine."

And the reason you've probably never heard of it is I just made it up a few minutes ago.

Yet my making it up, doesn't undermine the Trudeau doctrine's validity nor does it deny its importance in understanding modern-day Canadian politics.

So, allow me to explain it to you.

Simply put, the Trudeau doctrine comprises what, I think, are Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's key goals, attitudes and ideologies when it comes to governing Canada — if you will, it's his philosophic blueprint.

And as far as philosophic blueprints go, the Trudeau Doctrine is not all that complicated; in fact, it can be perfectly summed up in just two words "Let's Party!"

In other words, Trudeau believes the job of prime minister is to do as many fun, cool and exciting things as possible and to be adored by the media and public while doing it.

Ok I know you probably think I'm being facetious here and maybe even a little bit mean towards our Glorious Leader, but before passing judgement on me, just consider Trudeau's record.

Has Trudeau ever communicated a coherent political or ideological philosophy, can he be considered in any way shape or form a policy wonk; has he ever promoted a grand vision for the future; does he display any political shrewdness or cunning?

The answer to all those questions is "no"; he just seems like a guy who likes to have a good time and who likes to do cool stuff.

Hence, when he's pressed to discuss the nitty gritty of politics (you know, the boring stuff) he usually resorts to spewing out the same hokey, well-rehearsed platitudes, i.e. "I love Canada to my very bones", "I'm for the middle class", "the budget will balance itself."

What he really enjoys, on the other hand, is using his office to wow us with his total awesomeness, whether he's posing in carefully staged photo ops, jogging half-naked through the woods, partying with the world's corporate elites, or hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities.

And who wouldn't enjoy all that, especially when it results in the international media proclaiming him to be the hippest, coolest leader in the history of the entire universe.

Now, you might be wondering if it's really possible that any person would ever actually seek high public office for the shallow purpose of having a good time?

The answer, I'd say, is yes.

As a matter of fact, Patrick Luciani, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, recently wrote a column for the Globe and Mail, in which he theorized that accomplished and competent people now shun public office, mainly because there's no longer any challenges associated with running a government and the problems that do exist don't lend themselves to easy solutions.

Writes Luciani: "the heavy lifting of government is pretty much over now that the three levels of government consume half of the nation's income each year.  And since there's not much left to do, public office has lost its appeal.  Status now comes with careers in private business, especially those in disruptive technologies that transform the economy."

So basically, talented people now want to work for Google not government.

This is why it seems like our politicians of today lack the calibre of our politicians of yesterday.

Compare Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump; Winston Churchill to Theresa May.

At any rate, to build on Luciani's thesis, I'd argue those people who do seek public office these days don't necessarily want to solve the world's problems; some simply seek a grand stage upon which their egos can shine.

This, of course, brings us back to Trudeau, who hoped his prime ministerial persona would make him a star.

And for a while that was indeed how it worked out; the media seemed more concerned with praising his socks than in examining his foreign policy.

But now reality is catching up to him.  Now, young women are turning their backs on him in protest; now he's getting heckled at photo ops; now he's getting mocked on The Simpsons; now he's getting bad press; now his polling numbers are falling; now he has enemies in virtually every provincial capital.

And as if all that's not enough, India doesn't like him; China doesn't like him and the Philippines is threatening to declare war on him.

Needless to say, I suspect all of this is making governing for Trudeau a lot less fun.  Nor does it look like things are going to get any funner for him in the immediate future, as he will have to deal with angry provinces, carbon tax-hating consumers, and a variety of foreign policy headaches.

So, if the Trudeau Doctrine is anything to go by, even if Trudeau manages to win the next election, he might feel like he really lost.

Photo Credit: Reuters