Art of History

While Secretary of External Affairs from 1948 to 1957 and Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, Lester B. Pearson’s approach to peacekeeping in Canadian foreign policy was a constant adherence to international multilateralism and pragmatic idealism. Pearson believed that the only way to prevent aggressors from usurping another nation’s sovereignty in order to avoid international wars was to convince individual nation-states to put their trust in international organizations. These organizations would act as arbitrators among belligerent nation-states; serve as a forum to discuss solutions to international problems; and find ways to maintain social, economic and political stability and peace. If nations put their faith in international organizations’ decision-making processes, they would be less likely to plot secret, private alliances with other nations. According to Pearson, an international organization would be more neutral, it would be easier to trust its intentions and ...