Book Review Sample on Canadian History

Alliance and Illusion: Canada and the World, 1945-1984

ABSTRACT

Robert Bothwell’s book Alliance and Illusion: Canada and the World, 1945-1984 centers around relations and foreign policy, which Canada had with the international organizations including the United Nations and international powers such as the United states of america and Britain. It is vital to observe that this endeavor was directed at gaining power and influence in the international arena. Bothwell’s book is quite insightful as it addresses the cultural and economic relations that existed between Canada and international powers. It also examines the flow of democracy and politics between Canada and other world, in a period afflicted by the cold war, along with shifts in international powers. After World War II ended, Canada as a middle-powered country took an activist approach when handling international issues with an aim of obtaining power, along with an influence over the remaining portion of the world. In addition , the author states that Canada was associated with humanitarian activities, in crises such as the Vietnamese, Congo and Korean wars in an attempt to receive the much needed influence which is on an international level. However , in line with the author, Canada’s expectations were a delusion since by the end of the 1960s, its status greatly declined from that of middle-power into an unrecognized nation hiding behind the corridors of the United Nations. This automatically suggests that the country was, at that time, up against problems that forced it out from the international scene.

INTRODUCTION

In the book, Bothwell attempts to explain why Canada, which seemed to be a promising and successful nation, came to be undervalued, unrecognized and finally had to stand behind the scenes during international agenda. The writer further argues that Canada’s failure was attributed to poor leadership portrayed in both Pearson’s and Prime Minister’s John Diefenbaker’s era.

In addition , the book focuses on international affairs, which mean that any reader interested with foreign policy, politics, as well as cultural and economic relations, will see the book insightful. I hence plan to focus on nov Canada, that was formerly an influential and powerful state, as the result of poor leadership strategies and misinformed decision-making. Bothwell’s thesis can, consequently , be targeted at concluding that Canada’s failure in attaining power was attributed to inefficient leadership and the application of wrong strategies and poor decision making.

A Critical Analysis of the Book

In accordance with Bothwell, Canada played a helpful role in the creation and shaping of international businesses, as well as agencies, with an interior motive to become an influential international figure. For instance, in the 1940s, Canada committed to Europe and especially The uk without having the insight that Britain was a falling nation (Bothwell 39). It had been at this time that countries that developed the atomic bomb such as Britain and America were in power. It could be noted that whenever Canada committed to this venture, it had no proven fact that America would use the atomic bomb to blow up Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even though this single action resulted in the end of the World War, Canada was viewed as a partner in the development of the very most horrific and dreadful bomb in the world (Bothwell 43). At this time, the author is prosperous in proving that poor decision making on the part of the leaders resulted in the tarnishing of Canada’s image. More over, it made other countries to lose rely upon Canada since it was now viewed as a secretive nation.

Canada’s Humanitarian Role

Through the Cold War, Canada played a humanitarian role where it was focused on providing aid to such countries a Palestine and India (112). This examination makes it evident that Canada was more involved in the UN peace keeping missions so that they can obtain influence on a global level.

Pearson’s Government and its particular Humanitarian Way of Obtaining Power and Influence

Throughout the Pearson era, Canada assisted the UN in restoring peace in Korea. Here, an analysis of Bothwell’s works reveals the fact that over 26, 000 Canadians were involved in the Korean War and that 516 Canadians perished in the conflict (Bothwell 90). It may be observed that the war was involving the North and South Korea, but Canada worked with the UN and America to protect South Korea. This analysis reveals that Canada’s foreign policy facilitated the alliance of Canada and the usa in an effort to build close ties. It can be noted that the Pearson government was very determined to win the hearts and minds of the world leaders, as well as the international community when you're more active in the Korean War. It is evident that Canada was associated with resolving the Suez Canal crisis and the author argues that Canada, at this moment, demonstrably defined its foreign policy. Canada played a humanitarian role in the Suez Canal crisis where Pearson proposed a peacekeeping force at the 1956 UN general meeting (Bothwell 127). Moreover, mcdougal in his work states that Pearson’s administration was active in the formation of the UN peacekeeping forces which were to eliminate the Suez Canal Crisis. It was with this meeting that Pearson persuaded the international community and the world leaders to make the United Nations’ an even more active organization. At this stage, Bothwell proves that Pearson’s government mostly applied the humanitarian approach while attempting to amass power as it was underneath the impression that good deeds could win the trust of the entire world leaders.

An analysis of the book discloses the truth that Canada was also involved in the Vietnamese War while a member of the ICC. Here, Canada’s foreign policy was targeted at promoting democracy and freedom while at exactly the same time creating beneficial relations with regards to trade with the U. S. Additionally it is palpable that Pearson’s government was overseeing the execution of the Geneva Agreements, which means that it had been determined to make sure that there was a balance in international powers. Nevertheless, the writer argues that Pearson was on America’s side because he was under the impression that helping the Americans could end up being beneficial over time seeing as America was a superpower. It really is palpable that Pearson’s regimen was marked by strong relations between Canada and the US, which seemed to be beneficial (Bothwell 109). For instance, the book reveals that through the war Canada gained the trust of America, and for that reason, they engaged in trade which appeared to benefit Canada. It can be seen that Canada chose to just take the side of the America because it knew that it might gain from the super power by means of trade relations.

At this time, the author provides detailed description of the Geneva Convention, and how Canada pulled out of the Cold War, in addition to refused to greatly help the French regain its colonies, that have been Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Additionally , Bothwell presents a letter which Pearson wrote to St. Laurent stating, “it has been clarified to all concerned that we haven't and do not have a much, any special obligation according to Indochina or any special claim or need to be included in the formal Indochinese conferences” (Bothwell 196). Here, Bothwell uses actual historical letters to reveal the fact that Canada refused to greatly help the U. S., and French empires recover their territories, and for that reason, it didn't create a sophisticated international image for it self. It is apparent that, after Canada’s refusal to assist the superpowers, its popularity and influence declined. When it comes to foreign policy, Bothwell succeeds in portraying Pearson as appeasing and weak when coping with French relations.

Diefenbaker’s Era and the Humanitarian Approach

Mcdougal as well establishes that the Ottawa officials were rather convinced of establishing peace, as well as resolving international problems that they did not realize that they certainly were utilizing the wrong approach to obtaining power. This concept was demonstrably presented in Prime Minister’s John Diefenbaker’s regime as he was observed to bear many gifts, but had no idea on the best way to utilize them effortlessly to the main advantage of Canada (Bothwell 134). It absolutely was during this period that Canada was heard on an international level, which means that Canada needed to make the most of this golden age because of it to become a super power as time goes by.

But Diefenbaker was incompetent as a leader and a strategist because he was unable to undertake mutually beneficial trading activities with both Britain and South Africa. For instance, Canada played a humanitarian role in the Congo crisis at the beginning of the 1960s where it joined the Operation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC) restore peace in the warring nation. It really is apparent that Canada’s policy was targeted at restoring international stability and policing rogue states like the Congo. It could be observed that Canada’s interests in Africa were modest, yet it had been on the forefront dealing with the UN in the peacekeeping mission. At this point, Canada’s policy was aimed at gaining the essential appraisal from the international community because of its humanitarian efforts in an attempt to gain influence.

Additionally , the author discloses that Diefenbaker had difficulties when it came to trading with communist states because he had already accepted British policy, so that as a direct result, that he was against communism. Here, the author uses records of past events such as Commonwealth treaties to reveal to the readers that Canada’s relations with Britain had some influence over its present demise. That he as well supports his thesis by revealing to his readers that the Canadian leaders was influenced by the activities, the policies of the British to the point which they failed their country. Bothwell as well argues that Diefenbaker’s failure might be attributed to his poor relations with the Department of external affairs and Canadian military. It may be observed that other dilemmas, which faced Canada in those times, were the cancellation of the Avro Arrow, the controversies within the creation of NORAD. Only at that juncture, it's evident that it was Diefenbaker’s indecision, which caused difficulties between Canada’s relations with the United States. It's as well apparent that Diefenbaker had poor decision-making skills and was responsible for the uninformed construction, as well as mishandling of nuclear weapons in Canada…