Review: Canada and the OAS
| Date | 01 March 1996 |
| Published date | 01 March 1996 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070209605100124 |
| Author | David MacKenzie |
| Subject Matter | Review |
182
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
CANADA AND
THE
OAS
From
dilettante
to
full
partner
Peter
McKenna
Ottawa:
Carleton
University
Press,
1995,
viii,
27
6
pp,
$21.95
Canada
and
the
OAS
is
a
very
straightforward
book.
In
seven
chapters,
Peter
McKenna
examines
the
creation
of
the
Organization
of
American
States
and
surveys
Canada's
relations
with
it.
The
debate
over
mem-
bership
-
between
those
who
felt
that
joining
it would
improve Cana-
da's
relations
with
and
enhance
its
prestige
in Latin
America
and
those
who
saw
the
OAS
as
polarized
and
American-dominated
-
is
clearly
and
fairly
presented.
The
1989
decision
to seek full
membership
is
described
thoroughly,
and
a
short
postscript
surveys
Canada's
early
activities
as
a
full
member.
McKenna
argues
that
when
the
offer
to
join
was
finally
made,
it
was
not
a
surprise
decision
hatched
by
Prime
Min-
ister
Brian
Mulroney
at
the
behest of
President
George
Bush
at
Ken-
nebunkport,
but,
in
fact,
was
the
end
of
a
long
process
of
discussion
and
debate.
One
is
left
wondering
why
a
whole
book
is
needed
to
examine the
decision
to
join
an
international
organization
that
has
never
played
a
significant
role
in
the Canadian
scheme
of
things.
A
full
treatment
of
Canada's
role
in
the United
Nations
or
the North
Atlantic
Treaty
Organization
is
understandable
because Canadians
at
least
participated
in
the
creation
of
those
bodies;
in
the
case
of
the
OAS
Canadians
were
faced
with
an existing
organization
and
simply
had
to
make
up
their
minds
whether
or
not
to
join.
But
McKenna
skilfully
and
painstakingly
describes
the
shifting
attitudes
and
the
wavering
of
successive
Canadian
politicians
and
civil
servants
as
they
moved
ever
closer
to
and
then
pulled
away
from
membership.
In
1968,
for example, a
'new
phase'
was
ushered
in
with
Pierre
Trtudeau,
who
appeared
more
open
to
Latin
America;
but
fifteen
years
later,
Canada
still
hovered
on the
brink
of
the
OAS,
apparently unable
to
decide whether
to
jump
in
or
stay
out.
No
wonder
that
some
other
members
began
to
tire
of
the
whole
issue
and
of
the
dithering
Canadians.
This
is
a
useful
book
and
would
be
worthwhile
for
all
Canadians
who
are
interested
in
Canada's
Latin
American
policy.
It
also
serves
as
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