Middle Power in the Middle East: Canada's Foreign and Defence Policies in a Changing Region

by Thomas Juneau (Editor), Bessma Momani (Editor)

Overview

The Middle East has not, historically, been a first-order priority for Canadian foreign and defence policy. Most major Canadian decisions on the Middle East have come about through ad hoc decision-making rather than strategic necessity. Balancing international obligations with domestic goals, Canadian relations with this region try to find a balance between meeting alliance obligations and keeping domestic constituents content.

Middle Power in the Middle East delves into some of Canada’s key bilateral relations with the Middle East and explores the main themes in Canada’s regional presence: arms sales, human rights, defence capacity-building, and mediation. Contributors analyse the key drivers of Canada’s foreign and defence policies in the Middle East, including diplomatic relations with the United States, ideology, and domestic politics. Bringing together many of Canada’s foremost experts on Canada–Middle East relations, this collection provides a fresh perspective that is particularly timely and important following the Arab uprisings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781487528478
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	278
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Thomas Juneau is associate professor at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and a non-resident fellow with the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies.

Bessma Momani is a professor of political science and assistant vice-president at the University of Waterloo, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), and a non-resident fellow of the Arab Gulf States Institute.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
Thomas Juneau and Bessma Momani

2. Sleeping Beside the Elephant: The U.S. and Canada’s Middle East policy
Farzan Sabet

3. Being a Reliable Ally in a Politicized War: Canada’s Fight Against the Islamic State
Justin Massie and Marco Munier

4. Capacity-Building and Training: Supporting Security Services in Iraq, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories
Mike Fleet and Nizar Mohamad

5. Islamic State Foreign Fighters: Their Return and Canadian Responses
Amarnath Amarasingam and Stephanie Carvin

6. Humanitarian Foreign Policy and Refugees: Welcoming Syrians in Crisis
Nawroos Shibli

7. Supporting Civil Society: Jordan’s Changing Development Landscape
E.J. Karmel

8. Dealing with an Illiberal Democracy: Turkey’s Erdoğan Tests Bilateral Relations
Chris Kilford

9. Responding to Political Islam: Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Islam in Canada
Nermin Allam

10. Promoting Human Rights: Canada’s Confused Policies in the Middle East
David Petrasek

11. Selling Weapons: Saudi Arabia and the Trudeau Government’s Feminist Foreign Policy
Jennifer Pedersen

12. Supporting Mediation: Canada as Peacemaker in the Middle East
Peter Jones

13. Balancing Canada’s Role in the Arab-Israeli Peace Process
Costanza Musu

14. Navigating Ideology and Foreign Policy: Canadian Prime Ministers and Israel
Frédéric Boily

15. Conclusion
Nathan C. Funk 

What People are Saying About This

Dennis Horak

"Middle Power in the Middle East delivers an interesting and thought-provoking review of the many challenges Canada has faced in crafting a coherent and effective policy approach to the Middle East. The issues addressed and the arguments presented provide a helpful framework for policymakers looking to develop a comprehensive strategy to more fully advance Canadian interests and priorities in the region."

Michael Molloy

"Middle Power in the Middle East is arguably the best book to date on Canada's complicated relations with this volatile region. Clearly written and convincingly argued, this book examines how relations with the United States, the need to be perceived as a reliable ally, diaspora and election politics, and the individual preferences of prime ministers interact to shape Canada's foreign and defence polices in the Middle East. Middle Power in the Middle East is essential reading."

Stéfanie von Hlatky

"This book provides a much-needed discussion on Canada's evolving role in the Middle East. While Canada has been consistent in its willingness to contribute to regional stability, its engagement strategies have varied significantly over time. The contributors succeed in furthering our understanding of specific regional dynamics while identifying the decisive factors that shape Canada's relationships and reputation in the Middle East."

Editorial Reviews

"This collection nicely demonstrates how – and why – the Middle East continues to matter to Canadians."

—Kim Richard Nossal, Queen’s University, International Journal

" Middle Power in the Middle East is arguably the best book to date on Canada’s complicated relations with this volatile region. Clearly written and convincingly argued, this book examines how relations with the United States, the need to be perceived as a reliable ally, diaspora and election politics, and the individual preferences of prime ministers interact to shape Canada’s foreign and defence polices in the Middle East. Middle Power in the Middle East is essential reading."

—Michael Molloy, Former Ambassador of Canada to Jordan

"This book provides a much-needed discussion on Canada’s evolving role in the Middle East. While Canada has been consistent in its willingness to contribute to regional stability, its engagement strategies have varied significantly over time. The contributors succeed in furthering our understanding of specific regional dynamics while identifying the decisive factors that shape Canada’s relationships and reputation in the Middle East."

—Stéfanie von Hlatky, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces, and Associate Professor of Political Studies, Queen’s University

" Middle Power in the Middle East delivers an interesting and thought-provoking review of the many challenges Canada has faced in crafting a coherent and effective policy approach to the Middle East. The issues addressed and the arguments presented provide a helpful framework for policymakers looking to develop a comprehensive strategy to more fully advance Canadian interests and priorities in the region."

—Dennis Horak, Former Ambassador of Canada to Saudi Arabia

From the Publisher

"This collection nicely demonstrates how — and why — the Middle East continues to matter to Canadians."

International Journal - Kim Richard Nossal