The essay topic I have chosen is “Is Canada a relevant or a fading power?”. Primary readings on the subject indicate that Canada was viewed as a middle power throughout the Cold War. During the founding of the United Nations, Canada played a large role as “mediator in the new international order” (Ferrari, 2006) and was elected as a middle power in 1945 after the Australian’s gave up the role. The Canadian post-war identity was one that showed strength, optimism and just practises. According to Andrew Cooper, the height of Canada’s international status ranking was during Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s terms in which Michael Hawes claims was the ‘Golden Age of Canadian Foreign Policy’. Following this golden age, Canada’s international
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During the 1980’s Canada had fully established itself as ‘the helpful fixer’ and ‘honest broker’ (Hawes, 2004). By this time, Canada had “pioneered the modern notion of peacekeeping while, simultaneously, playing a pivotal role in the North Atlantic triangle”(Hawes, 2004) and had ‘developed a highly professional and efficient corps of Foreign Service officers” (Hawes, 2004). This is however overshadowed by the competing perspective that Canada was an extension of the United States. Due to Canada 's reliance on the United States for its economy, many of the foreign policy implementations were driven by that dependency. Hawes`states that Canada promoted the US perspective of what western hegemony was, rather than promoting a unique Canadian identity and ideology. That being said, the power dynamics between middle and greater powers almost requires middle powers to select a greater power ally. Finally there is the argument that Canada should not even be classified as a middle power, but as a smaller power. This is because there is a distinct ‘lack’ of functional power in Canadian Foreign Policy when compared to other states such as Britain/ France and superpowers such as Russia, China and the United States. This article will serve as a means of further explaining Canada’s past foreign policies, what made them appealing and respected and as support for the Canadian/US …show more content…
Although Chapnick subscribes to the functional principle, which doesn’t label Canada as a middle power due to its lack of responsibilities in comparison to other international powers. The functional principle is based upon “the relevance of the state’s interests, the direct contribution of the state to the situation in question and the capacity of the state to participate” (Chapnick, 2000). The article doesn’t dismiss Canada’s power and influence following WW2, however it does reclassify it and mitigate the impact that Canada made. This article will serve as a conceptual discussion on what defines a middle power and the functional principle. It will also bring forward the idea that Canada’s contributions may have been over celebrated, but are certainly in
During the 1980’s Canada had fully established itself as ‘the helpful fixer’ and ‘honest broker’ (Hawes, 2004). By this time, Canada had “pioneered the modern notion of peacekeeping while, simultaneously, playing a pivotal role in the North Atlantic triangle”(Hawes, 2004) and had ‘developed a highly professional and efficient corps of Foreign Service officers” (Hawes, 2004). This is however overshadowed by the competing perspective that Canada was an extension of the United States. Due to Canada 's reliance on the United States for its economy, many of the foreign policy implementations were driven by that dependency. Hawes`states that Canada promoted the US perspective of what western hegemony was, rather than promoting a unique Canadian identity and ideology. That being said, the power dynamics between middle and greater powers almost requires middle powers to select a greater power ally. Finally there is the argument that Canada should not even be classified as a middle power, but as a smaller power. This is because there is a distinct ‘lack’ of functional power in Canadian Foreign Policy when compared to other states such as Britain/ France and superpowers such as Russia, China and the United States. This article will serve as a means of further explaining Canada’s past foreign policies, what made them appealing and respected and as support for the Canadian/US …show more content…
Although Chapnick subscribes to the functional principle, which doesn’t label Canada as a middle power due to its lack of responsibilities in comparison to other international powers. The functional principle is based upon “the relevance of the state’s interests, the direct contribution of the state to the situation in question and the capacity of the state to participate” (Chapnick, 2000). The article doesn’t dismiss Canada’s power and influence following WW2, however it does reclassify it and mitigate the impact that Canada made. This article will serve as a conceptual discussion on what defines a middle power and the functional principle. It will also bring forward the idea that Canada’s contributions may have been over celebrated, but are certainly in