- Title:
- The origins of Canadian participation in the United Nations operation in the Congo, 1960.
- Creator:
- Spooner, Kevin A.
- Date Created:
- 1995
- Degree Awarded:
- Master of Arts
- Subjects:
- Foreign Relations Congo (Democratic Republic) Civil War, 1960-1965 United Nations
- Geographical Focus:
- Congo
- Supporting Materials:
- n/a
- Description:
- This thesis examines the Canadian decision to participate in the United Nations Operation in the Congo (UNOC), which was established to restore law and order when the Congolese military mutinied after independence. It reviews Canadian relations with the Belgian Congo prior to independence, but focuses on the three month period from July to September 1960. Little has been written on the subject of Canadian participation in UNOC. Existing interpretations suggest that the government was reluctant to participate but was forced to succumb to public pressure to assist the UN. An assessment of the evidence, however, suggests that the Diefenbaker government did not reverse its policy. Rather, it graduallv increased the level of Canadian participation. Moreover, the Canadian commitment was not strengthened as a result of public pressure alone; Canadian officials also recognised that if the UN failed with UNQX, it could be irrevocably undermined and Africa could be turther penetrated by communists.
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- Spooner, Kevin A.. 1995. "The origins of Canadian participation in the United Nations operation in the Congo, 1960.", Department of History, Carleton University
- Link to this page:
- https://cuhistory.github.io/grads/items/hist_219.html
Rights
- Rights:
- Copyright the author, all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.