Canada's role in the world during the 20th century

Canada has played a very important role in world organisations and groups like the UN (United Nations), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and NORAD (North American Air Defence) ever since the end of WWII. Canada’s contributions in these groups, has led to Canada having a much larger and substantial role in the world. Since Canada is like a “Middle Power” between the United States and Britain, it has become labelled as a mediator and peacemaker for all Nations in conflict. However, Canada is not always the first to react to international conflicts, there has been times when Canada has refused to abide with suggestions made by other countries.

During the Cold War Canada was in a tight position, both physically and socially. The US wanted more support from Canada with the Cuban Missile Crisis but Canada did not want to get too involved in Nuclear War, as it was sandwiched between two threatening nuclear superpowers. When the US asked Canada to place NORAD forces on alert, Prime Minister Diefenbaker refused and would not even let planes with Atomic weapons land at Canadian bases. Diefenbaker believed he was protecting Canadian independence by not getting involved in the Cuban Crisis - which seemed deeply rooted in US politics. Although Diefenbaker did eventually send in Canadian troops, the relationship between Canada and the US had already been damaged.

Mostly all of the wars that Canada participated in after the Second World War had really nothing to do with Canada being in jeopardy as a Nation, but because of the proposed Domino Theory (a theory developed by the US, that claimed that if one region came under the influence of communism then the regions and countries around it would follow like dominos) and threats from communist leaders, Canada participated in most of the wars that the UN supported or considered “legal”. The Korean, Yugoslavia and First Gulf wars were wars that Canada had voluntarily joined either through the UN Peacekeeping forces, or as a contributing Nation. Although Canada helped monitor troops in the Vietnam War, it never really took on any significant military role the suspected reason is that Canada was waiting for an official approval or authorization by the UN for the war. Canada made some smart moves by not getting involved with conflicts like the Vietnam War - which resulted in a US loss and a spread of communism throughout all Vietnam - and although Canadians stood strongly for peace keeping alongside the UN, they didn’t want to immediately get involved with conflicts that weren't considered a threat to the Nation.

Just six years after the war in Vietnam, a new threat came from a totally new area of the world. Iraq had previously showed some of its military strength in a recent war with Iran, and had proven itself the strongest military force in the Arab world, Iraq’s military was led by the ruthless and unpredictable leader; Saddam Hussein. Iraq invaded Kuwait in a swift, surprise attack. The UN and western countries immediately commanded Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. After no responses from Saddam, the UN took action and since the war was approved by the UN, Canada joined. The First Gulf war didn’t last long but it set the stage for the Second Gulf War - which was declared by the US alone after Saddam did all he could to disrupt the UN weapon inspectors. In the same year of the First Gulf War, Canada found itself in yet another peacekeeping operation, this time in Yugoslavia. The Canadians were the first peacekeepers to arrive but there attempts to stop the ethnic cleansing were fruitless. When further attempts to regain control failed, The NATO began bombing Yugoslavia and since Canada was part of the NATO, it took to the skies along with the allied Organization. Six years after the war in Yugoslavia ended, old grudges between Iraq and the US were becoming visible. From the end of the First Gulf war on and through the war in Yugoslavia, tensions between Iraq (Saddam) and the US were growing, the UN had imposed economic sanctions and weapon inspectors in Iraq after the First gulf war but Saddam was making things difficult. Soon after the devastating 911 terrorist attacks in 2001, President George Bush rendered the Iraq part of an axis of evil and sent in an attack without the UN’s help, naming the Second Gulf War. Although Canada did not get involved in this short lived war, it, along with other peacekeepers, would participate in future wars in Iraq against human rights and terrorism.

Canada has made itself known for promoting peace around the world. The years following WWII have shown the rest of the world that Canada usually will only get involved in a conflict when the UN is supportive and agrees to send in Peacekeepers. The UN, NORAD and NATO have benefited substantially from Canada’s effort. In the struggle for peace, freedom and human rights, Canada’s role in our world from WWII on has shown other Nations that they are willing to do all that they can to help and protect those in need.

http://cmoodle.sd69.bc.ca/mod/book/view.php?id=16084
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_theory