Promoting Peace as Foreign Policy
Focus #1
Peacekeeping and Internationalism
Peacekeeping and Internationalism
After WW2, members of the newly created United Nations decided that they needed an effective way to maintain international peace and security. To do this, they formed the Security Council, a subgroup of UN members with the authority to investigate and monitor potential crises. The council would use various strategies to negotiate solutions. It could, for example, order sanctions or, as a last resort, ask some members to launch military action.
Peacekeeping is the Security Council's key military strategy. The council consults with countries in need of peacekeepers and authorizes all UN peacekeeping missions. All UN members must make some armed forces available for peacekeeping missions, but every country has the right to decide which missions it will join. In this way, the UN peacekeeping process is an internationalist effort to meet the challenge of bringing peace to troubled parts of the world.
Since 1956, more than 125,000 Canadians have taken part in about 50 peacekeeping missions.
Peacekeeping is the Security Council's key military strategy. The council consults with countries in need of peacekeepers and authorizes all UN peacekeeping missions. All UN members must make some armed forces available for peacekeeping missions, but every country has the right to decide which missions it will join. In this way, the UN peacekeeping process is an internationalist effort to meet the challenge of bringing peace to troubled parts of the world.
Since 1956, more than 125,000 Canadians have taken part in about 50 peacekeeping missions.
Permanent Members of the UN Security Council
Peacekeeping & Peacemaking
Peacekeepers are NOT peacemakers. Peacekeepers are sent to conflict zones only after a ceasefire has been negotiated. In a ceasefire, all sides agree to stop fighting for a specified time. Peacekeepers then set up and patrol a buffer zone - an area where no fighting occurs - to keep warring groups apart while a lasting peace is negotiated. Peacekeepers also protect humanitarian workers who are providing food, shelter, and medical aid. UN peacekeepers may sometimes provide security, but they are allowed to use force only in self-defence. Troops taking part in peacekeeping missions must follow these guidelines:
Most peacekeeping missions have been successful. The peace holds, and a diplomatic solution is found. But problems sometimes emerge:
- Consent - Peacekeepers must respect the sovereignty of the host country
- Impartiality - Peacekeepers must not take sides
- Self-defence - Peacekeepers may use force only to defend themselves
Most peacekeeping missions have been successful. The peace holds, and a diplomatic solution is found. But problems sometimes emerge:
- Warring sides may start fighting again, catching peacekeepers in the middle
- Warring sides sometimes attack peacekeepers
- Diplomats may not be able to find a solution, so peacekeepers end up staying indefinitely (e.g. peacekeepers have been in Cyprus since 1964)
- Warring sides sometimes start killing civilians. When this happens, peacekeepers are not allowed to act.
Peacekeeping in Rwanda
In 1993, a peace agreement was negotiated between Rwanda's Hutu-controlled government and Tutsi rebels - so the UN sent 2600 troops from several UN member countries to ensure that peace was kept. The UN force included 400 Canadians and was commanded by Canadian general Romeo Dallaire. But in 1994, violence erupted again. Extremist Hutus started murdering Tutsis and moderate Hutus who opposed violence.
Dallaire had warned UN officials that a genocide was about to happen. He had asked for more troops and for permission to seize Hutu weapons. But Dallaire's warnings were ignored and his requests were denied. Although the peacekeepers did what they could, they could not stop the slaughter.
Over a 100-day period, more than 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis, were killed. Ten Belgian peacekeepers were also tortured and killed. Because Dallaire's warnings had been ignored, there were not enough UN troops, and peacekeepers were ordered to stay out of the conflict.
Dallaire had warned UN officials that a genocide was about to happen. He had asked for more troops and for permission to seize Hutu weapons. But Dallaire's warnings were ignored and his requests were denied. Although the peacekeepers did what they could, they could not stop the slaughter.
Over a 100-day period, more than 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis, were killed. Ten Belgian peacekeepers were also tortured and killed. Because Dallaire's warnings had been ignored, there were not enough UN troops, and peacekeepers were ordered to stay out of the conflict.
Focus #2
Law and Agreement and Internationalism
Law and Agreement and Internationalism
The foreign policies of various countries can sometimes conflict. To help resolve the disputes that arise when this happens, a large body of international law and agreements has been developed. Some of these international laws stem from trade agreements between two or more countries, and some are based on international treaties and UN resolutions. Others are based on UN conventions, or agreements, or on widely accepted international practices.
The UN's International Court of Justice, which is often called the World Court, interprets these laws and tries to settle disputes peacefully. But some countries, such as the United States, refuse to recognize this court. These countries do not want to give up their right to make their own decisions based on their own national interest.
The UN's International Court of Justice, which is often called the World Court, interprets these laws and tries to settle disputes peacefully. But some countries, such as the United States, refuse to recognize this court. These countries do not want to give up their right to make their own decisions based on their own national interest.
The International Law of the Sea
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International Agreements and Antarctica
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Focus #3
Foreign Aid and Internationalism
Foreign Aid and Internationalism
Countries also promote internationalism by delivering foreign aid. Every year, developed countries give billions of dollars to developing countries for humanitarian and other purposes. This money provides medical supplies, food, clothing, building supplies, and expertise.
Gross National Income - the total value of the goods and services produced by a country in a year, both inside and outside a country's borders.
In 1969, former Canadian PM Lester B. Pearson wanted to find another way to build a peaceful world, so Pearson issued a challenge to the world's richest countries. He suggested that countries spend 0.7 % of their Gross National Income. At the time, UN members committed to this goal, and they reaffirmed this commitment in 2002. But in 2006, Canada gave only 0.33 % of its GNI as foreign aid - about half the targeted amount.
Gross National Income - the total value of the goods and services produced by a country in a year, both inside and outside a country's borders.
In 1969, former Canadian PM Lester B. Pearson wanted to find another way to build a peaceful world, so Pearson issued a challenge to the world's richest countries. He suggested that countries spend 0.7 % of their Gross National Income. At the time, UN members committed to this goal, and they reaffirmed this commitment in 2002. But in 2006, Canada gave only 0.33 % of its GNI as foreign aid - about half the targeted amount.
Criticism of Foreign Aid
Humanitarianism is often the main motive for providing aid to other countries. But over the years, the foreign aid strategies of developed countries have often been criticized:
- Competing Motives - prop up a weak government
- Tied Aid - 'strings attached', countries may be required to buy goods and services only from donor country
- Lack of Consultation - inappropriate aid for the culture of country
- Complex Delivery Systems - dealing with an overwhelming number of agencies to receive foreign aid
- Bureaucracy - flowing through government channels can slow down delivery
- Corruption - officials can sometimes seize aid money and supplies instead of distributing them
- Brain Drain - best and brightest end up working for aid agencies instead of starting their own businesses