The Canadian Peacekeeping Narrative: Myth, Legend, and Canadian Foreign Policy Beyond Afghanistan

Abstract

Peacekeeping has long been a central motif in Canadian foreign affairs discourse. For some, Canadian peacekeeping has taken form as a legend: a story anchored in history yet elevated to a higher narrative form through romanticism and nostalgia. For others, Canada’s peacekeeping heritage is more akin to a myth: the personification of a poetic symbol or abstract ideal adapted to the capacity of a primitive people. As Canada’s military engagement in Afghanistan draws to an end, debate concerning the role of peacekeeping in Canadian foreign affairs is sure to be rekindled. This article will take stock of this debate and explore the significance of the peacekeeping narrative to Canadian foreign policy beyond Afghanistan. It will be argued that academic discourse often overlooks the most important implication of this debate: that whether or not this narrative is well-founded, its lasting impact on Canada’s cultural imagination and enduring popular support deserve consideration in the formulation of Canadian foreign and defense policy.