Canadian Peacekeeping

Diplomacy leads to respect, which yields influence and ultimately power. Peacekeeping is a type of diplomacy. It falls under the category of preventive diplomacy, which is the act of preventing violent outbreaks and hostility with diplomatic solutions (United Nations, 2013). Peacekeeping is traditionally tied to Canadian culture; it is up there with the great beaver and maple syrup. It is a fine tradition with a noble history, and over the years, it has become one of Canada's most defining acts. Furthermore, peacekeeping gives Canadians a sense of unity while improving its international reputation. Unfortunately, Canadian peacekeeping efforts have lagged in the recent years, which is something that Canada should take up again. Canada should develop a more active role in peacekeeping because it gives Canada influence on a world stage.

Canada's peacekeeping efforts have cemented its reputation as a diplomatic nation, which all starts with its noble origin. Lester B. Pearson is often credited with pioneering peacekeeping within Canada. Fifty-seven years ago, during the Suez crisis in the Middle East, he suggested to the United Nations that a troop be sent over to supervise the tense situation. He addressed the United Nations by saying "We need action not only to end the fighting, but to make peace." This shows that Canada is a nation worth listening to, a nation worth negotiating with. Pearson's quote calls for a long term solution, not a short term one. Ending the fighting would be temporary, but creating peace would create a stable environment, where violence is less likely to erupt.Of course, not all of Canada's peacekeeping efforts have been successful. In 1994, Canadian troops were unable to prevent the death of 800, 000 Rw...

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... support, so it can help unite the country. Despite all these benefits, Canadian contributions to UN peacekeeping missions have halted as of late, which contributes to its waning global reputation.Peacekeeping has the ability to place Canada on a pedestalin the eyes of the world, because it is a project that is supported by many influential nations such as the United States (U.S. Department of State, 2010) and Australia (Australian War Memorial, 2011). Peacekeeping is too strongly rooted in Canadian history for it to completely disappear. Canada’s declining global reputation should be interpreted as a sign to respond to the call of arms. Peacekeeping represents all the things Canada traditionally represents; fairness, equity, acceptance and human rights. It is the perfect way to symbolize to the world at large that Canada is a diplomatic nation, worth listening to.