While Canadians generally have been highly supportive of the nation's United Nations peacekeeping role, some elements of Canadian society have objected to the use of the nation's military forces in roles that military planners refer to as military operations other than war (MOOTW). Additionally, the end of the Cold War brought countries such as the United States into the peacekeeping effort. The presence of a country with a bent toward war into the peacekeeping business makes peacekeeping a more difficult activity for Canadians because the Americans want (insist) on being in charge of any operation with which they are even slightly affiliated.Legault, A. Canada and Peacekeeping: Three Major Debates. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian peacekeeping Press, 1999. Canada's role as United Nations peacekeepers has long been a source of pride for most Canadians. Canadians have a unique position towards peacekeeping among the nations of the world. Canada throughout the last half of the twentieth century led nations such as Finland, Sweden, and India in leading the way in international peacekeeping. A few Canadians complained that Canada's peacekeeping efforts cost the national treasury too much. Most Canadians, however, were exceptionally proud of the global role played by Canada in maintaining world peace and promoting human rights in the process. While the changing character of international peacekeeping, an unpleasant peacekeeping experience in Bosnia, disillusionment with peacekeeping in Rwanda, and shame over the Somalia episode have given Canadians reasons for sober second thoughts on the nation's role as United Nations peacekeepers, there remains a large residue of pride for Canada's contribution to efforts to maintain world peace. The peacekeeping role also provides Canada with an admirable national identity in the world. |
