The Cold War and Canada’s away game
The Canadian military was upside down.
In 1987, the Cold War was in its late stages. The superpower confrontation that had shaped global politics for four decades was still very real, but the momentum was shifting. Canada and our allies were increasing pressure on the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. That same year, the last Canadian defence white paper of the ...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a critical gap in Canada's defence posture: a historical over-reliance on alliances and expeditionary operations at the expense of domestic defence capabilities. The author credibly argues that Canada's military culture became "upside down," prioritizing contributions to international missions over protecting its own territory and interests. This perspective is supported by the contrast with other NATO members, who maintain a clear focus on nati...