Ever since Lester Pearson won a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Suez Canal Crisis, Canada has often congratulated itself on its peacekeeping role. It is arguably more important, however, for Canada to develop a reputation for conflict prevention, and not just keeping the peace after conflict begins.
Intrastate wars have become more commonplace than wars between states. In 1999-2000, there were over fifty intrastate wars, with a death toll of over 7 million civilians. Since 1945, over 90 percent of these conflicts have taken place in developing countries, often, as in the Congo, drawing neighboring countries into the conflict.
A recent World Bank analysis of intrastate conflicts shows that they predominantly occur where rebel forces have strong financial backing. While some revolutions are based on genuine grievance, most conflicts, the study showed, are based on gaining access to valuable resources. Greed, not grievance, is the motivator. The World Bank's research show that internal conflicts are very likely in countries where income and education are very low, where an exported income such as petroleum, drugs, or diamonds can be easily captured and sold, and where one larger ethnic group dominates smaller ones.
Such conflicts can be averted by tracking the resource internationally, whether diamonds, petroleum, or drugs, making them harder to sell. Other efforts are intensifying the fight against money laundering and controlling the small-arms trade. Finally, countries should be actively encouraged to entrench the rights of minorities in their constitutions to ensure that the larger group does not dominate the smaller.
In 2000, Parliament launched the National Initiative to Combat Money Laundering to bring Canada's efforts into line with international standards. The centerpiece of the strategy was a new Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act requiring financial institutions to report suspicious transactions. The Act also created the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which analyses these transaction reports and releases information to intelligence and law enforcement agencies when appropriate. This legislation serves as a successful model for countries desiring to combat money laundering and the financing of civil unrest.
In addition, Canada has been successful in promoting the interests of various cultures and entrenching minority rights in its Constitution. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms served as a roadmap in post-apartheid South Africa, and should continue to serve as a model for those countries with minority ethnic groups.
Intrastate wars have become more commonplace than wars between states. In 1999-2000, there were over fifty intrastate wars, with a death toll of over 7 million civilians. Since 1945, over 90 percent of these conflicts have taken place in developing countries, often, as in the Congo, drawing neighboring countries into the conflict.
A recent World Bank analysis of intrastate conflicts shows that they predominantly occur where rebel forces have strong financial backing. While some revolutions are based on genuine grievance, most conflicts, the study showed, are based on gaining access to valuable resources. Greed, not grievance, is the motivator. The World Bank's research show that internal conflicts are very likely in countries where income and education are very low, where an exported income such as petroleum, drugs, or diamonds can be easily captured and sold, and where one larger ethnic group dominates smaller ones.
Such conflicts can be averted by tracking the resource internationally, whether diamonds, petroleum, or drugs, making them harder to sell. Other efforts are intensifying the fight against money laundering and controlling the small-arms trade. Finally, countries should be actively encouraged to entrench the rights of minorities in their constitutions to ensure that the larger group does not dominate the smaller.
In 2000, Parliament launched the National Initiative to Combat Money Laundering to bring Canada's efforts into line with international standards. The centerpiece of the strategy was a new Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act requiring financial institutions to report suspicious transactions. The Act also created the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which analyses these transaction reports and releases information to intelligence and law enforcement agencies when appropriate. This legislation serves as a successful model for countries desiring to combat money laundering and the financing of civil unrest.
In addition, Canada has been successful in promoting the interests of various cultures and entrenching minority rights in its Constitution. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms served as a roadmap in post-apartheid South Africa, and should continue to serve as a model for those countries with minority ethnic groups.
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