The Early Post-war Period, Canada Diplomacy

The period of 1945 to 1957 is commonly called by the scholars of Canada the "golden age" or "golden decade" of Canadian foreign policy. At that time Canada's Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and lots of excellent diplomats adopted the right foreign policy that matched the special international environment at that time. Canada participated the international business positively, and was active on the international stage. Canada achieved noteworthy achievement in foreign aids peacekeeping disarmament and so on.This research topic has the important academic worth and practical significance. As a "middle power", Canada's diplomacy presents some characteristics that is different from the great power, there is few research at this aspect in China. Today's Canadian diplomacy is deeply influenced by the diplomatic principles and behavior patterns of the " golden ageThrough the researches on Canada's foreign affairs of the early post-war period, We can more easily understand Canada's foreign policy and the diplomatic behavior pattern, accurately comprehend the Canadian foreign policy and foresee the Canadian diplomatic trend.This article is not the comprehensive analysis of Canada's foreign affairs, but pay more attentions to the problems that is seldom been studied by domestic scholars. I treat Canada's foreign policy towards United Nations and NATO as an individual case, inquire into the problems that how Canada adjust its foreign policy according to the changing international situations.This article contents five parts:The first part, survey of the previous study . Introducing the academic worth and practical significance of this article, and the research fruits of the domestic and foreign.The second part, reviews of traditions in Canadian diplomacy before "goldage" .Mainly to analyze the "imperialistic emotion" and " isolationism",these two traditions affected Canada's foreign affairs greatly before ,but at post-war period they became less important. At the early post-war period, Canada's diplomacy experienced the important adjustment, but these traditions would still play the important role under the particular circumstance.The third part, diplomacy principle of the early post-war period .This part emphasizes on introducing the lecture "The foundations of Canadian policy in world affairs " delivered by Canadian prime minister Louis St. Laurent in January 1947, which put forward The five basic principles: "national unity, political liberty, the rule of law, the values of Christian civilization, and a willingness to accept international responsibilities." And further analyzes the reasons and significance of each principle. This part also briefly analyze how to fulfill the principles that were also mentioned in St. Laurent's lecture.The fourth part: the diplomatic practices of the early post-war period . I treat Canada's foreign policy towards United Nations and NATO as an individual case, inquire into the problems that how Canada adjust its foreign policy according to the changing international situations. Also proceeded the analysis to some characteristics of the Canada diplomacy inside, such as "functional principle" in Canada's diplomacy and "quiet diplomacy principle". Finally, to inquire into the procedure and thinking of the Canada diplomacy decision ,and some predicaments that Canada is facing.The fifth part, the summary of the whole article. To give a concise summary of the early post-war period diplomacy, and total characteristics of it, look forward to the future of Canadian diplomacy in the new international situation .