Canada’s Global Canada’s Global Partners: AlliancesPartners: Alliances

Topics for Discussion:Topics for Discussion:

The Post-War YearsThe Post-War Years

NATO NATO

Challenges to Canadian Challenges to Canadian SovereigntySovereignty

The CommonwealthThe Commonwealth

La FrancophonieLa Francophonie

The G-8The G-8

Final thoughts / QuestionsFinal thoughts / Questions

The Post War YearsThe Post War Years After WW2, Canada had After WW2, Canada had

the world’s third largest the world’s third largest navy and fourth largest navy and fourth largest airforce.airforce.

Canada was also one of Canada was also one of the richest nations in the the richest nations in the world since many world since many European nations were European nations were economically devastated economically devastated by the immediate effects by the immediate effects of WW2of WW2

Canada’s Navy in the Bedford Basin, NS

Canadian Airforce

The “Cold War”The “Cold War” After the war there were After the war there were

increasing tensions between the increasing tensions between the Soviet Union, the United States Soviet Union, the United States and its allies.and its allies.

In 1949 Western nations (Britain, In 1949 Western nations (Britain, United States, W. Germany, United States, W. Germany, Canada, etc.) formed the NATO Canada, etc.) formed the NATO Alliance (North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)Organization)

Nations of Eastern Europe Nations of Eastern Europe (USSR,E. Germany, Romania, (USSR,E. Germany, Romania, etc.) formed the Warsaw Pactetc.) formed the Warsaw Pact

NATO – HomepageNATO – Homepage NATO - Who's who?NATO - Who's who? (Canada’s (Canada’s

profile within NATO)profile within NATO)

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

The Cold WarThe Cold War

The Berlin Wall

With increasing tensions betweenthe communist East and the Capitalist West, a wall was erectedTo separate East Berlin (East Germany)From West Berlin

Challenges to Canadian SovereigntyChallenges to Canadian Sovereignty

In 1957, there were more than In 1957, there were more than 20 Distant Early Warning 20 Distant Early Warning (DEW) sites created on the 70(DEW) sites created on the 70thth parallel.parallel.

They were paid for and They were paid for and maintained by the United States.maintained by the United States.

The stations were designed as an The stations were designed as an early warning system for early warning system for incoming Soviet missles.incoming Soviet missles.

Although the sites were clearly Although the sites were clearly on Canada’s territory, they were on Canada’s territory, they were owned and maintained by the owned and maintained by the United States. Canada was not United States. Canada was not involved.involved.

Canada consented. Was this a Canada consented. Was this a threat to Canadian threat to Canadian independence?independence?

The DEW Line

Challenges to Canadian SoverigntyChallenges to Canadian Soverignty

The Americans The Americans knew that the knew that the shortest distance shortest distance between the USSR between the USSR and the USA was and the USA was through the Arctic.through the Arctic.

As a result, they As a result, they insisted that Canada insisted that Canada allow them to allow them to install these sitesinstall these sites

DEW Line Radar Site in Canada’s Arctic

NATO TodayNATO Today Tensions have lessened between Tensions have lessened between

the Warsaw Pact nations and the Warsaw Pact nations and NATO. In fact, some former NATO. In fact, some former members of the Warsaw Pact are members of the Warsaw Pact are now members of NATO! (e.g. now members of NATO! (e.g. Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, etc)etc)

Question: Does Canada’s Question: Does Canada’s membership within NATO threaten membership within NATO threaten Canada’s sovereignty? Canada’s sovereignty?

For a discussion of NATO’s For a discussion of NATO’s agenda and current operations agenda and current operations around the world around the world click hereclick here

Question: Is Canada’s involvement Question: Is Canada’s involvement in NATO a reflection of Canada’s in NATO a reflection of Canada’s traditional global values? What are traditional global values? What are Canada’s values? What is our Canada’s values? What is our global reputation?global reputation?

The CommonwealthThe Commonwealth Founded in 1931, the Founded in 1931, the

Commonwealth is an Commonwealth is an organization of former British organization of former British colonies that today consists of colonies that today consists of 51 nations and represents 1.7 51 nations and represents 1.7 Billion citizens. (Some former Billion citizens. (Some former colonies are not members such colonies are not members such as the United States.as the United States.

Member states meet every two Member states meet every two years to discuss economic, years to discuss economic, social, political and social, political and environmental issuesenvironmental issues

The CommonwealthThe Commonwealth The purpose of the commonwealth The purpose of the commonwealth

is the following:is the following: To support the United Nations in To support the United Nations in

its efforts for greater peace and its efforts for greater peace and security in the worldsecurity in the world

To combat racism and oppression To combat racism and oppression in the worldin the world

To promote the spread of To promote the spread of democracy around the world (e.g. democracy around the world (e.g. Case study: Nigeria)Case study: Nigeria)

Reduce economic disparities that Reduce economic disparities that exist within nationsexist within nations

Canada’s Role in the Canada’s Role in the CommonwealthCommonwealth

Canada played an Canada played an instrumental role in the instrumental role in the ending of Apartheid in South ending of Apartheid in South AfricaAfrica

Recently, Canada has used Recently, Canada has used the Commonwealth as a the Commonwealth as a vehicle for combating global vehicle for combating global terrorismterrorism

Canada also uses the Canada also uses the Commonwealth to spread its Commonwealth to spread its foreign aid funding through foreign aid funding through the usage of NGOs (Non-the usage of NGOs (Non-governmental organizations)governmental organizations)

The Commonwealth has also The Commonwealth has also been used by Canada to been used by Canada to address global health issues address global health issues such as the spread of the such as the spread of the HIV/AIDs virus.HIV/AIDs virus.

La FrancophonieLa Francophonie La Francophonie is an La Francophonie is an

organization of French organization of French speaking nations that speaking nations that represent 5 continents.represent 5 continents.

This organization has 53 This organization has 53 member countries and member countries and represents 10% of the represents 10% of the world’s populationworld’s population

Much like the Much like the Commonwealth, La Commonwealth, La Francophonie meets Francophonie meets every 2 years to discuss every 2 years to discuss economic, social and economic, social and political issues and to political issues and to implement a vast array implement a vast array of initiatives (foreign of initiatives (foreign aid, health care, and an aid, health care, and an international games) international games)

Canada’s role in La FrancophonieCanada’s role in La Francophonie

Canada plays an important role since it Canada plays an important role since it is one of the wealthiest members of is one of the wealthiest members of this organizationthis organization

Canada has played a major role in Canada has played a major role in promoting human rights around the promoting human rights around the world through La Francophonie (e.g. world through La Francophonie (e.g. initiatives in Haiti)initiatives in Haiti)

Some Canadians have questioned the Some Canadians have questioned the value of La Francophonie with respect value of La Francophonie with respect to financing (e.g. tax dollars to fund La to financing (e.g. tax dollars to fund La Francophonie Games).Francophonie Games).

Question: Should Canada continue to Question: Should Canada continue to be a member of La Francophonie? Is be a member of La Francophonie? Is La Francophonie obsolete given the La Francophonie obsolete given the role that Canada currently plays under role that Canada currently plays under the umbrella of the United Nations?the umbrella of the United Nations?

The G-8The G-8 The G-8 consists of: The United States, The G-8 consists of: The United States,

Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Great Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada (which joined in 1976) and Britain, Canada (which joined in 1976) and Russia (which joined in 1998)Russia (which joined in 1998)

Although the G-8’s main role is in the area Although the G-8’s main role is in the area of economic policy, the organization also of economic policy, the organization also deals with issues such as drug smuggling, deals with issues such as drug smuggling, combating terrorism and human rights combating terrorism and human rights abuses.abuses.

The organization meets once a year and The organization meets once a year and represents some of the most powerful represents some of the most powerful nations on earth. Some question the Value nations on earth. Some question the Value of the G-8 with the exclusion of emerging of the G-8 with the exclusion of emerging powers such as China and India (hence the powers such as China and India (hence the G-20). G-20).

However, supporters of the G-8 stress that However, supporters of the G-8 stress that Canada can use its influence in this Canada can use its influence in this membership to forward its economic, social membership to forward its economic, social and political goals around the worldand political goals around the world

Final Thoughts/ QuestionsFinal Thoughts/ Questions

Does Canada benefit from its memberships in Does Canada benefit from its memberships in international organizations?international organizations?

Are some organizations more valuable than others?Are some organizations more valuable than others? What are the benefits of membership?What are the benefits of membership? What are the costs of membership?What are the costs of membership? Write a 200 word paragraph in response to the Write a 200 word paragraph in response to the

following question: following question: Canada’s membership in Canada’s membership in International organizations represent a threat to International organizations represent a threat to Canadian Sovereignty. DiscussCanadian Sovereignty. Discuss

Works ConsultedWorks Consulted

Books: Books:

Cohen, Andrew, Cohen, Andrew, While Canada Slept: How we lost our place While Canada Slept: How we lost our place in the worldin the world. Toronto, McClelland and Steward, 2003. Toronto, McClelland and Steward, 2003

John Ruypers et al.,John Ruypers et al., Canadian and World Politics Canadian and World Politics. Toronto, . Toronto, Emond Montgomery Publications, 2005.Emond Montgomery Publications, 2005.

Websites:Websites: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/nato_countries.htmhttp://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/nato_countries.htm

(All images enclosed taken from Google images)(All images enclosed taken from Google images)