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Political Science Political Freedom

Canada, the Congo Crisis, and UN Peacekeeping, 1960-64

by (author) Kevin A. Spooner

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2009
Category
Political Freedom, General, Canada, Diplomacy
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774858953
    Publish Date
    Jan 2010
    List Price
    $32.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774816373
    Publish Date
    Jan 2010
    List Price
    $34.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774816366
    Publish Date
    Aug 2009
    List Price
    $95.00

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Description

In 1960 the Republic of Congo teetered near collapse as its first government struggled to cope with civil unrest and mutinous armed forces. When the UN established what would become the largest peacekeeping operation of the Cold War, the Canadian government faced a difficult decision. Should it support the intervention?

 

As Kevin Spooner demonstrates, Canada’s involvement in the mission was not preordained. The Diefenbaker government became enmeshed in a complex web of foreign and defence policy determinants that caused it to have immediate and ongoing reservations – reservations that challenge cherished notions of Canada’s commitment to the UN and it status as a peacekeeper.

 

This book offers one of the first detailed accounts of Canada’s involvement in UN peacekeeping. It will appeal to those interested in Canadian foreign policy and relations with Africa in particular and the Congo crisis and United Nations peacekeeping more generally.

About the author

Awards

  • Winner, <P>C.P. Stacey Award for scholarly work in Canadian Military History</P>

Contributor Notes

Kevin Spooner is an associate professor of North American studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.