JPHiP Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: meowchi on July 12, 2008, 12:41:38 AM
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Do you think Canada has better international policy/relations than the US?
Many people say, "Canada is never is the news for problematic relations, while the US makes an appearance everyday!"
Here's some tidbits to keep in mind (and please correct me if I'm wrong):
*Canada has a different international policy. It is not a superpower,and has no ability to project power and it's "will" around the globe. Sort of the good cop to the US's bad cop.
*There are no Canadian military bases around the globe. Only tourists. :muffin:
*Canada's single largest contribution to conflicts around the world post Korea is peacekeeping. (it was Canada's idea after all)
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"*There are no Canadian military bases around the globe. Only tourists."
Incorrect. We have a sizable base in Afghanistan and smaller contingents elsewhere.
Lots of Peacekeeping - but the idea is kinda dead after it failed to stop the slaughter in Rwanda, and arguably made it worse. Now no one is even considering peacekeeping in Burma, Darfur or Zimbabwe.
I think it's hard to say "better" or "worse". Canada doesn't shoulder the same burdens the US does. It didn't lead the fight against Communism. It contributes to coalitions like in Bosnia or the first Gulf War - but it can't lead them. Canada can afford to do less because other nations don't depend on Canada. If the US stopped leading then a lot of countries would be left high and dry (e.g. South Korea, Kuwait, Taiwan, etc.).
The foreign policies aren't really directly comparable in my opinion.
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I don't think we are aggressive like teh US. But we do help out with some peacekeeping missions and with the War on "Terror" right now.