Canada’s role on the world stage has increased dramatically since the middle of the twentieth century. Once an offshoot of England, we have grown to become a recognized voice internationally.

Canadian Foreign Policy: 1945-2000 is a collection of key documents and speeches tracing the evolution of Canadian foreign policy since 1945. It highlights Canada’s role in the great international events of the last century from the beginnings of the United Nations through the birth of NATO, the origins of Peacekeeping, Canada’s participation in the Korean War, and our involvement in the International Control Commissions in Indo-China.

The collection also shows Canada’s role and influence in the Far East, from the creation of the Colombo Plan, to the recognition of the People’s Republic of China, to our relations with Japan and the APEC countries. As well, the volume looks at disarmament, nuclear affairs, the growing influence of the provinces in foreign policy, relations with France, and the birth and impact of NAFTA. Canada’s participation in the founding of the G-20 group of nations and the effect on world economic trends in the twenty-first century round out the story.

Dr. Arthur E. Blanchette has been active for many years in the Pan American Institute of Geography and History and in the Canadian Association of Geosciences and History. A former director of the Historical Division of the Department of External Affairs, his publications include Canadian Foreign Policy: 1955-1965 (1977); Canadian Foreign Policy: 1966-1976 (1980); Canadian Foreign Policy: 1976-1992 (1994); Canadian Foreign Policy: 1945-2000: Major Documents and Speeches in the present Rideau Series of which this volume is #2.

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