Canada's Strategic Interests in the New Europe

David A. Lenarcic is an assistant professor of history at Wilfrid
Laurier University.

This timely book is a compilation of the pro-ceedings of the 1996 annual
spring seminar

of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies. Conference presentations
given by a cross-

section of Canadian and foreign academics and government officials are
included, together with open-forum discussions among the participants. A
wide range of political and economic issues are covered, from NATO
enlargement to business opportunities in former communist nations.

Unfortunately, the perfunctory “Summation” does not adequately
articulate the links among the various ideas raised by the conference
participants. Also disappointing is the book’s failure to address the
national interests that have moved Ottawa to engage in peacekeeping
operations in the former Yugoslavia. Why did Canada decide to send
troops in the first place, and why has it kept them there? How do
European governments view Canada’s participation?

Nonetheless, the book clearly elucidates the key aspects of Canada’s
relationship with contemporary Europe; if not the final word on the
subject, it is a helpful introduction.