Theory in Action: Analyzing the 2003 Iraq War 103lack of pro gress made the casualty figures more
difficult to bear.
Radical dissatisfaction with Canadian policy
focused on two arguments: (1) that Canadian
involvement in what they viewed as Amer i ca’s
war proved a sad illustration of the reluctance
and unwillingness of the Canadian government
to distance itself from the United States; and
(2) that Canadian and international businesses
profited from the war, especially Canada’s large
arms and mining industries.
Constructivists could point to the power
of Canadian identity to explain the country’s
policies in Af ghan i stan. That identity revolves
around Canada’s global citizenship and its
support of peacekeeping, multilateralism,
NGOs, and human security issues. This iden-
tity remains strong, in spite of the fact that a
past tradition of generous Canadian support,
aid, and investment abroad has veered in the
opposite direction.
Feminists might have the stronger argu-
ment: Canada’s transition from a liberal (“girly”)
to a conservative (“manly”) government in
2006 was marked by a shift from UN support
(including humanitarian and peacekeeping
missions) to a more active and aggressive
search- and- destroy effort after 2006.
By 2009, both popu lar and po liti cal senti-
ment had shifted. The relatively high casualties
and lack of pro gress toward well- intentioned
po liti cal objectives meant that Canadians
no longer supported a combat role for their
troops. By 2013, Canadian involvement in
Af ghan i stan was changed to strictly noncom-
bat support. Canada remains rightly proud of
its attempts to bring security and prosperity
to Af ghan i stan, but perhaps should be even
prouder of a po liti cal pro cess that led to a
bipartisan and well- reasoned decision to with-
draw combat forces as gracefully as pos si ble.
In October 2015, Canada transitioned back
to a liberal government, and its current foreign
policy preferences strongly reflect a return to
“prudence first” policy in military interven-
tions, such as those currently under way in
Syria and Iraq. In keeping with the policies of
many Eu ro pean countries, Canada is
increasingly exploring ways to conserve its
aid resources and reduce military spending.
As of December 2015, for example, Cana-
da’s new government has ordered the
withdrawal of Canadian fighter aircraft
from co ali tion airstrikes against the IS and
extended an offer to resettle 25,000 Syr-
ian refugees in Canada.For CritiCal analy sis- Canada supported U.S. policy in Af ghan i stan,
but not in Iraq. Which theory best explains
the difference in the Canadian positions? - Which explanation of Canada’s foreign
policy do you find most convincing? Why?
A newly arrived Syrian refugee family, sponsored
by a local NGO called The Ripple Refugee Proj ect,
poses for photos in Toronto.