Canada and the Venezuela Crisis

OASIS N° 30, Julio-Diciembre 2019

21 Pages Posted: 28 Jun 2019

See all articles by Yvon Grenier

Yvon Grenier

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Date Written: May 2, 2019

Abstract

Over the past few years, Canada has stepped out of its comfort zone in hemispheric affairs, to speak and act forcefully, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland put it, in solidarity with “the people of Venezuela and their desire to restore democracy and human rights in Venezuela.” With its partners of the Lima Group, Canada imposed sanctions on the Maduro regime, recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president, and called for free and fair elections as soon as possible. The article identifies possible factors explaining Canada’s policy. The main proposition is that the Venezuela crisis features an extraordinary combination of domestic and international factors that make participation to a multilateral and diplomatic push for restoration of democracy an ambitious but judicious option for Canada. The article also presents the criticism to this policy, and discusses the issue of human rights and democracy promotion in the broader context of Canadian foreign policy.

Keywords: Canada; Venezuela; foreign policy; democracy; human rights

Suggested Citation

Grenier, Yvon, Canada and the Venezuela Crisis (May 2, 2019). OASIS N° 30, Julio-Diciembre 2019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3410555

Yvon Grenier (Contact Author)

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY ( email )

1 West Street, P.O. Box 5000
Department of Political Science
Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G2W3
Canada
9028673940 (Phone)
9028673243 (Fax)

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