Canadian grand strategy and lessons learned

Abstract

The nature of Canada's international role has been the subject of much discussion in recent years, especially since 9/11. This article explores the extent to which it is possible to discern elements of a Canadian ‘grand strategy’ since the end of the Second World War and argues that, during the Cold War in particular, Canadian policy-makers laid the foundations for such a strategy. Drawing on the work of a number of Canadian writers and statesmen, the author identifies several basic principles that have underpinned Canadian foreign policy since 1945 and suggests that they still hold relevance today as Canada re-examines its international contribution in the twenty-first century.