Outline of a Civil Foreign Policy

Multilateralism

The UN and NATO experiences set the stage for a truly internationalist foreign policy. Canada became a member of many international organizations, took part in many conflict-settling activities, and offered its good services to states looking for a constructive mediator. No other major power has established so many memberships in different parts of the world. With the exception of the United States, Canada has never sought to establish bilateral or 'special relationships' with other countries. On the contrary, it has always preferred a multilateralist approach with problems on the international stage. Multilateralism in international politics means that a state pursues its interests and goals beyond its national borders, not alone, but in cooperation and coalitions with other states. The opposite of multilateralism is unilateralism: a policy in which a state relies only on its own strengths, whether based on a strong economy, a high technological standard, or armed forces with sophisticated weapons. In general terms, a multilateral foreign policy is softer than its unilateral counterpart. It is oriented more towards compromise, the establishment of and the allegiance to internationally accepted codes of behaviour, rules, norms, and laws. It is, in a way, the best possible foreign policy method for medium and small powers; superpowers, on the other hand, are always tempted to strive for unilateralism.