Canada and failed states: Foreign policy under the Martin Government, 2003--2006.

In the 2005 International Policy Statement-A Role of Pride and Influence in the World (IPS, 2005), the Government of Canada recognized the changing nature and growing importance of failed states and established their stabilization as a top Canadian foreign policy priority. However, despite the policy prominence and growing wealth of the academic literature on failed states, the concept, itself, suffers from vagueness and a lack of definitional clarity. This thesis will answer the question What theoretical perspectives(s) inform and influence Canadian foreign policy towards failed states as expressed in the declaratory policies of the Martin Government, 2003-2006?' The analysis provided by this thesis will focus on the development of Canada's failed state policy in particular it will focus on the policies articulated in the IPS and the policies related to the specific case of Canadian engagement in Afghanistan.--P.ii.