Canada and missions for peace : lessons from Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia

The end of the Cold War was to usher in a new era of international peace and security. Instead, new types of conflicts have emerged and the international community has had to react quickly. New threats to peace have been countered with varying doses of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and, today, peace-building. This newest approach --- peace-building --- recognizes that the sources of violent conflict are complex and that human security and international stability will only be achieved by integrating political, military, and development efforts. Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peace-building agenda, offering a unique vantage point. Perhaps it is too early to tell if a concern for international security can be combined with a concern for human security and well-being to form a new peace-building "architecture." The lessons and insight contained in Canada and Missions for Peace, however, will bring this vision into clearer focus. Contents 8 Foreword 10 Preface 14 Chapter 1 Introduction: Conflict in an era of radical change 18 The international response: an agenda for peace 22 Defining missions for peace 27 The changing international climate 28 The Canadian response 30 The case studies 34 Chapter 2 Nicaragua: History, social conflict, and missions for peace 38 Agency and structure in the history of political conflict and political change in Nicaragua 41 The peace process 51 The nature of the peace achieved 58 Did the peace process fail? Lessons for Canada 60 Conclusions 63 Chapter 3 Cambodia: Foreign policy and missions for peace 66 Canada and Indochina: the historical landmarks 68 A policy of taking position 76 Success by default 85 Recent developments 92 Chapter 4 Somalia: When two anarchies meet 96 Missions for peace 98 The evolution of crisis in Somalia 101 A bolt from the blue: Canada–Somalia relations before and after UNOSOM 107 When two anarchies meet 110 Learning the right lessons and building on hidden successes 121 Chapter 5 Conclusion: Linking peace and development 128 Nicaragua: historical space and national consensus 130 Cambodia: the role of foreign policy 133 Somalia: anarchies and missions for peace 135 Lessons learned 138 Recommendations for policy 142 Final words 144 Appendix 1 Biographies of contributing authors 146 Appendix 2 Abbreviations and acronyms 148 Bibliography 150 The end of the Cold War was to usher in a new era of international peace and security. Instead, new types of conflicts have emerged and the international community has had to react quickly. New threats to peace have been countered with varying doses of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and, today, peacebuilding. This newest approach — peacebuilding — recognizes that the sources of violent conflict are complex and that human security and international stability will only be achieved by integrating political, military, and development efforts. Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peacebuilding agenda, offering a unique vantage point: It focuses on the motivations, dynamics, and impacts of Canadian foreign policy; It situates the Canadian effort within three very different and complex conflicts: Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia; and It provides sobering insight and useful recommendations to guide future policy and programing in peacebuilding. This book explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia, focusing on the national role in these missions in light of Canadian security interests. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. The introduction reviews the radical changes in the post-Cold War era that have resulted in the emergence of new types of conflicts. The three country case studies follow, demonstrating the range of intervention and level of effort required by the states participating in peace building. Issues discussed include the need to understand historical roots of conflict; the connection between Canadian participation in United Nations operations and Canada's wider foreign policy ambitions; and the conflict between the forces of international politics and the immovable objects of local history. Finally, lessons learned from these missions are reviewed and policy recommendations are made Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peacebuilding agenda, offering a unique vantage point: It focuses on the motivations, dynamics, and impacts of Canadian foreign policy -- It situates the Canadian effort within three very different and complex conflicts: Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia -- and It provides sobering insight and useful recommendations to guide future policy and programing in peacebuilding. Perhaps it is too early to tell if a concern for international security can be combined with a concern for human security and well-being to form a new peacebuilding "architecture." The lessons and insight contained in Canada and Missions for Peace, however, will bring this vision into clearer focus "Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peacebuilding agenda."--Résumé de l'éditeur "Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peacebuilding agenda."--Jacket Canada is in search of new roles and a new policy framework in the transition period known, for now, as the post-Cold War era. Issued also in French under title: Les missions de paix et le Canada.