In this week's lesson, we are focusing on peacekeeping. This assignment is 1 of the 5 that you will be asked to do during the course. Bear in mind that you only need to complete 3 of these assignments. (although as a reminder, you only need to do 3 of these assignments). It will also help you prepare for the debate next week, where we will discuss related topics in depth.

Section 1: Answer all Questions

The questions in Section 1 is based on the ideas discussed in Week 5 of the course. They can be answered based on the material in the lessons for week 5. These questions are short as they are intended to make sure that you understand the content we have covered. This week's question are shorter that the first assighment. You do not have to cite sources as you should not need to consult outside sources.

1. What impact did the Suez Crisis have on Canada domestically (i.e. within Canada)?
2. What impact did the Suez Crisis have on Canada's role in the world?
3. Do you think the UNEF mission was a success?

Section 2: Answer 2 out of 3 Questions

The questions is Section 2 expands on ideas discussed during Week 5 and requires research. They are longer form questions and require answers of approximately 200 words each. You should seek out reliable sources and cite them both in-text and in a bibliography/works cited page. Please keep in mind that these questions should be answered in your own words. If you include a quotation from somewhere else, then you need to have it in quotation marks and cite it. Your answers should NOT be made up of nothing but quotations. I need to see your ability to analyze a topic, make decision based on what you have read, and then support your decision with evidence. For this week, I have provided some links that you may find useful.

As we learned this week, peacekeeping is both an important part of Canadian identity and a difficult, painful, and complex process that is not always successful. Read the following articles and webpages in order to understand the issue, then answer the questions that follow. I have deliberately included sources that are several years old. This is because I want you to fill in the gaps between then and now with your own research.

If you haven't already, make sure to consult the UN's definitions of the terms we are using in the unit: UN Terminology. For some additional context, I have included an older article prepared by the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Canada exploring different approaches to creating peace and the challenges they represent, from the era where Canada was significantly decreasing it's peacekeeping contribution and was instead focusing more on combating Islamist insurgencies: Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, and Peacemaking: Concepts, Complications, and Canada's Role.

As we learned, peace does not exist, and thus peacekeeping and peacebuilding are not possible or very difficult. In such cases, peace-enforcement is sometimes employed, such as was proposed for the Congo: ‘Peace enforcement’ brigade considered for Congo. The article I linked is from 2013 however, what happened with the mission and did Canadians take part, and did it help to build peace? The mission is still ongoing and there are currently 8 Canadian personnel on the mission. Here is what the UN has to say about it today: MONUSCO Fact Sheet.

The Trudeau government pledged to renew Canada's commitment to peacekeeping and has deployed Canadians on multiple missions, such as the Congo mission mentioned above. Here is an article that supports this policy, followed by letters from readers responding to it, mostly in opposition Canada finally dusts off its blue helmet: Editorial, Peacekeeping or peacemaking? In addition, here is an article arguing that Trudeau hasn't lived up to his promises: Trudeau government’s inaction on peacekeeping absent from National Peacekeeping Day tribute

But what does the landscape look like for peacekeepers today, and how does peacekeeping need to change in order to meet the challenges of modern conflicts? The following article gives some responses to the mission in Mali: ‘It’s a war’: experts question whether Mali mission is peacekeeping. And for the UN's view on how peacekeeping needs to change: PEACEKEEPING FACES CHALLENGES: HERE’S HOW WE CAN MEET THEM. There are currently 21 Canadian personnel in Mali. Here is what the UN has to say about the mission to Mali: MINUSMA Fact Sheet.

The Canadian Forces are involved in many operations around the world. The following page lists all public operations the Canadian Forces are currently engaged in. Read it to see the wide variety of missions there are: Current Operations List

If you are interested in more detailed information on UN contributions for all nations, or just to see what types of personnel Canada contributes and to which missions they are part of, you can use the following link: TROOP AND POLICE CONTRIBUTORS.

Questions

1. What types of roles do the Canadian Forces currently operate in?
2. What is the difference between peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and peace building?
3. Has the Trudeau government followed through with its promise to refocus the Canadian Forces on peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions?

When you are finished, please follow the link to submit your analysis to the Assignment #2 dropbox. Please make sure to check the Rubric as well.

Reminder About Requirements

Keep in mind the following requirements, as described in the rubric for the Assignments:

1. You are required to use in-text citations for your sources.

2. The sources I provide you with are not enough to satisfyingly answer all questions. You are required to do outside research, including at least 2 sources.

3. You need to include a bibliography/works cited page. It does not need to include the sources I have provided you with, but it does need to include the outside sources you have consulted for your own research.