Pearson’s Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956-67 by Michael K. Carroll delivers a well-rounded history on the United Nations peacekeeping endeavor between 1956 and 1968, with an emphasis on Canada’s role in its establishment and operation. Carroll’s main theme of the book is the ‘myth’ of peacekeeping and he makes the argument that peacekeeping, although temporary, is necessary in establishing peace where it does not currently exist. Carroll further argues that in order for peacekeeping to truly work, there must be an active effort from all parties to maintain it, which is not something he believes that the UN is able to do within its current structural set up. Pearson’s Peacekeepers is a much more international…show more content… Throughout the entire book, Carroll is careful to include the reactions and opinions from different countries regarding a certain issue. This highlights the complications behind foreign relations and diplomacy for the reader. For example, while examining the financial chaos of UNEF, Carroll includes the opinions of countries that are often neglected in international diplomacy studies, which can be seen regarding Article 19, an article that ties a country’s voting power in the UN General Assembly to their financial contributions to UNEF. He notes the Congo’s influence on other African countries to deny their support for Article 19, as well as the attempt by the Albanians to amend Article 19. Both are countries that are often disregarded in popular discourse of the peacemaking process. Furthermore, Carroll’s inclusion of soldier experience on the ground adds to a better understanding of the ramifications that international politics had on people. For example, he includes the issue of culinary preferences among the different nationalities present on the ground with UNEF, which resulted in finding alternative meats to beef, such as lamb and goat. This obstacle seems very menial, but it speaks to the real difficulties that UNEF had to overcome, even at the most basic
