To what extent did Canada play a significant role in Cold War events? Use examples from the period 1945–1990.
There is no doubt that the future of the world depended on the outcome of the Cold War
(1945­1989)
.
The Cold War was the ideological conflict between the two superpowers of the world, the democratic United States of America and the communist Soviet Union after World War 2.
The US represented democracy and believed in the freedom of people, whereas the USSR (Soviet Union) stood for communism, and believed the success of the country is more important than individual needs.
For
over 40 years the two superpowers fought each other indirectly for power and control of the world.
Both
sides signed defence treaties, such as NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization), NORAD (North
American Aerospace Defence Command) and the Warsaw pact, to prepare for an attack.
Canada
contributed significantly to war efforts by helping to stop the spread of communism, taking civil defence measures and making strong military alliances. One way that Canada tried to protect itself from the “Russian bear” was make alliances with the
Western European countries and US. By the end of World War II, United Nations (UN) was formed, with
Canada as one of its founding countries. Canada had hoped that this would solve the problem of the Cold
War. But the UN, with no military force of its own, could not enforce its rulings on the USSR and the problem worsened as the Soviets were given the power to veto important rulings against them. Therefore, in 1949, Canada joined NATO , an organization based on the principle of collective security and would grant them protection and support from other countries if they were ever invaded. Years after, with the threat of nuclear war still very real, a bilateral alliance was formed among the Canadians and Americans,
NORAD.
Along with treaties (NATO and NORAD), Canada also made significant contributions to the
Cold War. From 1950­1953, Canadian troops participated in the UN’s first ever large­scale peacekeeping mission: the Korean War. Around 30,000 Canadian troops were sent to suppress the communist North
Korea. Then three years later, Canada played a significant peacekeeping role during the Suez Canal
Crisis. The future Prime Minister of Canada, Lester Pearson, deployed his diplomatic skills during this crisis and helped to prevent conflict. He was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Pearson also was the mind behind creating a UN peacekeeping force, one that we still use today.
However, not everything Canada did support their democratic allies. Throughout the Cold War, there was the question of American influence on Canada and Canadian sovereignty. Several prime ministers tried to anchor Canadian authority during the Cold War. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, PM
John