Many Canadians continue to assume that peacekeeping is still Canada’s primary military and foreign policy tool, although it has participated in peacekeeping to a limited extent since the late 1990s. The main mystique around Canadian peacekeeping is that the nation best exemplifies the practice. The nation has consequentially done a disservice by raising expectations for what the country and the blue berets can achieve on a global scale. The UN was about $100 million in debt in the middle of the 1960s and was almost collapsing. Many feared the future of the global organization as peacekeeping costs became entangled with Cold War politics. The United States made the last-minute decision that no one desired to see the UN disbanded, but because of its preservation, the costs related to maintaining peace became voluntary; eventually, the issue was political rather than financial.
By boosting the size of its peacekeeping troops to around 1000 military personnel, Canada should revive its position as a global leader in the field. With over 3,300 personnel on the ground, Canada was the greatest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping efforts in 1992. However, under Liberal and Conservative administrations, Canada’s commitment has steadily decreased. Nevertheless, the ‘pacifist par excellence’ title no longer appeared appropriate in 2015, with Canada contributing only 111 peacekeeping forces out of a total UN deployment of over 125,000. Canada can revive its efforts, directly enhancing domestic and international security. Peacekeeping forces can lessen the capacity of terrorist organizations to exploit nations as hideouts from which to plan global attacks by preserving stability and security in war-torn states. Given its capabilities, Canada has a moral duty to maintain intercontinental peace and stability because the suffering of residents in war-ridden nations is an insult to Canadian ideals.
Even though Canada has only participated in peacekeeping to a minor extent since the late 1990s, many Canadians still assume it is their country’s leading military and foreign policy tool. The United States decided at the last minute that no one wanted to see the United Nations disbanded, and as a result, the costs associated with preserving peace became voluntary. The suffering of citizens in war-torn nations is a disgrace to Canadian ideals as it has a moral obligation to contribute to upholding global peace and stability based on its ability.
Bibliography
Carroll, Michael. “Peacekeeping: Canada’s Past, But Not Its Present and Future?” International Journal 71, no. 1 (2016): 167-176.