Power, public pressure, and politics: insight into the Canadian public's role in the Iraq war and its security consequences

MacAulay, D. B. (2023). Power, public pressure, and politics: insight into the Canadian public's role in the Iraq war and its security consequences. https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3973

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Details:

Title

Power, public pressure, and politics: insight into the Canadian public's role in the Iraq war and its security consequences

Author
MacAulay, Duncan B.
Call Number

LE3 .A278 2023

Date

2023

Supervisor

Brickner, Rachel

Degree Grantor

Acadia University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Level

Honours

Discipline

Political Science

Affiliation

Politics

Abstract

The Iraq War left the relationship between Canada and the United States politically strained. In order to understand why Canada decided to not join the War effort, my research examines what factor had the greatest effect on Canada’s decision. Using secondary sources and public opinion polls, I argue that public opinion likely was the deciding factor that caused Jean Chrétien to keep Canada out of the Iraq War. Subsequently, this research examines how the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) relationship with the US military was affected by this decision. By interviewing senior CAF members who served from the 1980s through to the 2020s, I argue that the country’s military relationship was unaffected by Chrétien’s decision. Moreover, I show that CAF members did not feel the public pressure facing the Canadian government during the buildup to the Iraq War.

Rights

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

Permanent Link

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3973

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