more readings...

Yunnus, M. 'Foreign Policy: A Theoretical Introduction' (p.183)

The little extract I read was talking about Canada's foreign policy in the international scene. The author explains that consistency and stability in past foreign policy tends to be related to perceptions of power. Hence, 'consistency of clear cut foreign policy over time, particularly if that policy is successful, also tends to allot a leadership role to the country concerned.' As appropriate examples one could look at the foreign aid and the peacekeeping components of Canada's foreign policy. As a consequence, "the impact of a change in this policy in Canada's image in the world can be adverse and act as a constraint on suggestions for that change".

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(p.175)

In this section of the book, Yunnus explains how the role of external affairs ministers are very often limited by bureaucratic pressures and lack of time. Thus, very often, the external affairs ministers are expected to respond a crisis as promtly as possible with solely their own background knowledge. When in the event that the ministers, for whatever reasons (like being new in the position), is not able to come up with a decision/suggestions, he has no choice but to approve his advisors' decisions. In Canada, we have witnessed this case with Peter McKay who became the external affairs minister last year under the Harper government. He had to deal with several big issues such as if the Canadian troops would stay longer to Afghanistan without being fully preped for the position. He had no other choice than to rely on its advisors...and of course Harper himself.
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Massie explained in his article that one of Canada's agenda in helping other countries, including Haiti, is to have a bigger role in the international stage. Hence, often, in other to be part of the "leaders", Canada would usually join US, France and UK to intervene in certain situations. Here I make the link with Yunus' extract, since I would suspect that several times, Canada feels "pressure" to intervene in some crisis. For instance, I recall George W. Bush talking about the axis of evil after the event of 9/11. If one country was not fighting along the US, then you were against them. Obviously, here we can see the pressure put upon the canadian government to be acting a certain way.