Thesis Chapters by Alan Paddington
Canada has long been regarded as a middle power in international politics. During the Cold War, ... more Canada has long been regarded as a middle power in international politics. During the Cold War, it not only contributed to the UN peacekeeping missions but also acted as a mediator or conciliator to promote international peace. Since the end of the Cold War, the world has changed from bipolarity (the United States and Soviet Union) to unipolarity with the United States hegemony. The unipolar world has created less space for a middle power like Canada to exert its influence in the international politics.
Under these circumstances, Canada has increased its focus towards NATO, engaging in a number of NATO missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Libya and Afghanistan. Given the substantial commitments from Canada to the Afghan mission (ISAF) and NATO, it is worth studying how much influence Canada has at NATO especially after ISAF.
Based on Barry Buzan’s security studies approach, the author establishes an integrated framework to analyse the Canadian engagement in the NATO’s operation in Afghanistan by developing constructivist and realist arguments for projecting Canada’s soft and hard powers to Afghanistan and the world. Realist arguments are concerned with material benefits such as economic and geopolitical interests associated with an alignment with the United States interests while constructivist arguments are about the preservation and promotion of the normative ideas of Canada such as democracy and human rights, improving Canada’s image and standing in the world.
However, these powers cannot be converted into a strong degree of influence at NATO especially at agenda-setting and decision-making stages inside the alliance. A strong emphasis on soft power is also highlighted as it allows a more efficient use of hard power. The writer further argues that Canada needs a complete overhaul of its foreign policies and an effective defense policy to close the capability gaps without increasing military spending.
Uploads
Thesis Chapters by Alan Paddington
Under these circumstances, Canada has increased its focus towards NATO, engaging in a number of NATO missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Libya and Afghanistan. Given the substantial commitments from Canada to the Afghan mission (ISAF) and NATO, it is worth studying how much influence Canada has at NATO especially after ISAF.
Based on Barry Buzan’s security studies approach, the author establishes an integrated framework to analyse the Canadian engagement in the NATO’s operation in Afghanistan by developing constructivist and realist arguments for projecting Canada’s soft and hard powers to Afghanistan and the world. Realist arguments are concerned with material benefits such as economic and geopolitical interests associated with an alignment with the United States interests while constructivist arguments are about the preservation and promotion of the normative ideas of Canada such as democracy and human rights, improving Canada’s image and standing in the world.
However, these powers cannot be converted into a strong degree of influence at NATO especially at agenda-setting and decision-making stages inside the alliance. A strong emphasis on soft power is also highlighted as it allows a more efficient use of hard power. The writer further argues that Canada needs a complete overhaul of its foreign policies and an effective defense policy to close the capability gaps without increasing military spending.
Under these circumstances, Canada has increased its focus towards NATO, engaging in a number of NATO missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Libya and Afghanistan. Given the substantial commitments from Canada to the Afghan mission (ISAF) and NATO, it is worth studying how much influence Canada has at NATO especially after ISAF.
Based on Barry Buzan’s security studies approach, the author establishes an integrated framework to analyse the Canadian engagement in the NATO’s operation in Afghanistan by developing constructivist and realist arguments for projecting Canada’s soft and hard powers to Afghanistan and the world. Realist arguments are concerned with material benefits such as economic and geopolitical interests associated with an alignment with the United States interests while constructivist arguments are about the preservation and promotion of the normative ideas of Canada such as democracy and human rights, improving Canada’s image and standing in the world.
However, these powers cannot be converted into a strong degree of influence at NATO especially at agenda-setting and decision-making stages inside the alliance. A strong emphasis on soft power is also highlighted as it allows a more efficient use of hard power. The writer further argues that Canada needs a complete overhaul of its foreign policies and an effective defense policy to close the capability gaps without increasing military spending.