and a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Thus, in the context of east west disputes, Canada is solidly in the western camp. Canada is also a member of the Commonwealth, and, in this area, the country does have a major foreign policy problem. Canada attempts to play a leadership role in the development of Commonwealth policy towards the Republic of South Africa. In this role, Canada attempts to walk a middle ground between the position of the Conservative Government in the United Kingdom (which advocates settlement of the apartheid problem primarily through political negotiation) and the Front Line State members of the Commonwealth (who desire to pursue a tough economic sanctions policy towards the Republic of South Africa).
Canada is a strong supporter of the United Nations, and of that organization's efforts to maintain world peace. Canada also has developed a strong reputation as a peace keeper in the world. No other country has provided peace keeping and observer forces for the United Nations to the extent that Canada has.
Canada has a love hate relationship with the United States. While most of the Canadian population is fearful of being absorbed by the United States (culturally, if not physically), most Canadians also feel a greater affinity with the United States than with any other single country other than their own. While Canadians generally opposed such American foreign policy and military adventures such as the contemporary actions in Central America, and earlier ones in Southeast Asia, they are also solidly on the American side in the context of east west relations, although they were more anxious than was most of the American population for the United States to reach some accommodation with the former Soviet Union, and they remain committed to the maintaining of good relations with the Peoples Republic of China, Cuba, and other countries to which Americans tend to be hostile.
Economic pr...