Conflicts of Interest: Canada and the Third World

Stewart K. Sutley is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the
University of Alberta.

This volume seeks to consolidate and advance an “alternative” and
“activist” critique of Canada’s conduct vis-а-vis the Third
World. Inspired by the reception accorded an earlier volume produced by
the same publisher (Ties That Bind: Canada and the Third World), Swift,
Tomlinson, and their 10 collaborators seek to build upon and update this
distinctive perspective.

Swift’s introduction gives the impression that the volume will draw
together analyses of diverse aspects of Canadian dealings with the Third
World. Specifically, he describes the book as an examination of
Canada’s role in perpetuating poverty in the South—and,
interestingly, of the paradoxical nature of Canada’s position in
North-South affairs. On the latter point he leads the reader to believe
that some effort will be made to articulate the Northern and Southern
features the authors perceive in Canada’s political, social, and
economic character.

This two-dimensional framework of analysis is, unfortunately, never
seriously used by any of the authors. Tomlinson’s essay outlining the
development, over the past decade, of Canadian links with the Third
World accomplishes the lesser task of taking inventory on official
policy. Other authors concern themselves with a variety of issues, but
fail to articulate a convincing or coherent analytical platform for
their conclusions. While trying hard to be academic, and therefore
apparently more convincing, the authors merely recycle targets of their
critical derision and sources amenable to the “alternative”
critique.

This critique slides into an uncontrollable and undisciplined attack on
both domestic and international actors and issues. Dismayed by the
collapse or destruction of the world socialist system, and the exultance
of the West, Swift asserts that “it all comes down to how you see the
world,” while affirming the view of Westerners as focused through
“ideological blinkers.” For his part, Allahar is content to define
ideology facilely, as “a pair of glasses through which we see the
world.” Indeed, one cannot endorse the views of both writers and still
possess a coherent perspective.

This volume’s value is largely confined to the historical survey
delivered by Tomlinson, Lane’s counterintuitive analysis of Canada’s
dealings with Tanzania, and Murphy’s excellent analysis of Canadian
nongovernmental organizations. Advancing a logical counterperspective on
Canada’s role in the Third World is a project that awaits a future
volume, wherein the intriguing notion of “conflicts of interest”
will be explored and strengthened by a differentiated notion of Southern
existence.