Canada and the Crisis in Central America

Written from the balanced perspective of a Canadian scholar living and working in the United States, this book presents the first scholarly investigation of Canadian policy interests in Central America. Jonathan Lemco examines Canada's sizable interest in Central America and helps fill a gap in the literature on Canada's foreign policy. The book offers a rare look at not only Canada's Central American policy goals but how these goals relate to Canadian-U.S. relations and Latin American politics. Lemco concludes that the Canadian government does want to help encourage the peace process, reduce economic inequality, and promote social justice in Central America. He points out that Canada's Central American policy, particularly its modest support for Nicaragua, allows it to retain a measure of independence from the United States. Historically, Canada's Central American policy is in some ways substantially different from U.S. policy in the region.

The book begins with a look at Canada's transition from a country that until recently had little interest in Central America to its present position as a supplier of economic aid to the region. Lemco investigates Canada's relationship with the Organization of American States as well as Canadian commercial ties with Central America. The final chapters discuss Canada's developmental aid and the search for Central American peace. Students of Canadian foreign policy or Latin American studies, as well as the lay reader interested in Canada's relationship with Central America, will find Canada and the Crisis in Central America a valuable resource.

JONATHAN LEMCO is Director of the Canadian-American Committee of the National Planning Association and Adjunct Professor at The Johns Hopkins University.