The end of the Cold War was to usher in a new era of international peace and security. Instead, new types of conflicts have emerged and the international community has had to react quickly. New threats to peace have been countered with varying doses of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and, today, peacebuilding. This newest approach — peacebuilding — recognizes that the sources of violent conflict are complex and that human security and international stability will only be achieved by integrating political, military, and development efforts.

Canada and Missions for Peace explores Canada's involvement in recent international efforts to resolve violent conflicts in Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia. It examines the complex interface between foreign policy, international security, and international development. In doing so, this book joins the ever-growing body of scholarship on the new peacebuilding agenda, offering a unique vantage point:

It focuses on the motivations, dynamics, and impacts of Canadian foreign policy;

It situates the Canadian effort within three very different and complex conflicts: Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Somalia; and

It provides sobering insight and useful recommendations to guide future policy and programing in peacebuilding.