This article presents an overview of Lloyd Axworthy's efforts as foreign minister to pursue a distinctive Canadian foreign policy that placed human security – the well‐being and security of the individual – at the centre of international politics. It begins by tracing the forces that shaped Axworthy's unique approach to government and diplomacy, challenging the views of those who would dismiss him as a naive and radical idealist. The paper explores four cases ‐ the negotiation of the Landmines Treaty, the creation of the International Criminal Court, Canada's role on the Security Council, and the debate over sanctions for the Sudan – to demonstrate that Axworthy combined a pragmatic political realism with a strong idealist streak in pursuit of his objectives.