|
|
| Pages |
Canadian Foreign Policy II: Okay, if you hadn't noticed, I am kind of an international-politics nerd. Combined with the fact that Canada tends to be a compulsive international organization joiner, I figured that I would list what Canada belongs to (or where we like to occasionally show up). I took this list from the CIA World Fact Book but I noticed that they were missing a couple. If you notice any glaring omissions please let me know. Since the 1940s, every Canadian government has tried to extend Canada's presence abroad through a wide-ranging network of multilateral institutions and
associations. Most of Canada's relations with the international community of states has been given a boost through membership in institutions/organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). With the exception of the US, Canada usually takes, or prefers to take a multilateral approach (that is contacts with several or many countries at once) to it's foreign policy over bilateral one (that is contact with only one other country specifically).
This commitment to international organizations has cut across political party lines (though parties tend to vary over what organization they give preference to) and draws substantial support from most Canadians. There are several reasons for this support. Canada as a middle power has been and is affected by the workings of the international system and the foreign policy of others. Since we are not that powerful, Canada has an interest in finding ways to influence others. When superpowers act in ways that could be dangerous and harm us, others or the general peace, Canada has an interest in international organizations comprised of many countries that can exert influence. These multilateral institutions help to create rules that can help stop powerful countries from hurting others. For example, after World War II was over, Canada suffered a lot of deaths and had spent a lot of money. Canada would benefit if the world was more peaceful in the future. Therefore, Canada had an interest in joining the United Nations - an organization dedicated to preventing or ending wars. In short, this multilateralism became a way for Canada to achieve a lot of its goals in a world of countries more powerful than it.
As well, it should be mentioned that Canada belongs to many of these organizations because they serve purposes that are in harmony with many Canadian values. This is just a short (and likely insufficient) explanation for why Canada is the international-joiner that it is. Still, I hope that it is a useful introduction to the subject. Much of this information came from a book by Professor Tom Keating of the University of Alberta called Canada and World Order: The multilateral tradition in Canadian Foreign Policy. The other stuff is what I crammed in my brain from four years of university. Incidentally, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade have a list of links here: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/english/foreignp/policy.htm but I think mine are better.
*Web site is not official. Placed as a link to provide information in absence of an official web page. Legend
Other Cool/Helpful Links: Canadian Institute of
International Affairs (CIIA) - Links to International Relations Sites: |
