NATO, Libya and Beyond: Lessons for Africa and Canada
The Brock African Heritage Recognition Committee’s (BAHRC) presents its third Dr. Wilma Morrison African Heritage Month Lecture. This year the internationally renowned Pan-African socialist and peace scholar Dr. Horace G. Campbell will present: “Canada, NATO and Libya: Lessons for Africa”. Dr. Campbell, Professor of African American Studies and Political Science at Syracuse University lectures around the world and has authored numerous articles and books on Africa, capitalism, socialism and peace. His most recent book is NATO’s Failure in Libya: Lessons for Africa (2012)
Based on his book, this lecture will explore the militarization in Africa through NATO
and Canada’s role. With its role in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan as part of a US- led NATO force, Canada’s role as a middle peace-keeping power was radically altered. Again under NATO, Canada played a decisive role as part of a Western bombing campaign that aided anti-government factions in the Libyan civil war that deposed Muammar Qaddafi. Now with its contribution to a renewal of military adventure in Iraq, Canada is now fully involved in a high- stakes game of international intrigue that is normalizing war-making. For all intent and purposes, Canada is being transforming into a ‘warrior state’. What, however, is the level of debate in Canada respecting the transformation of NATO into a globalized expeditionary organization? What is the level of debate about the ability and policies that enable any Canadian government to commit lives and materiel to offensive wars? What are the economic, cultural and political costs to civil society? Given the democratic deficit accompanying nations at war, not to mention the siphoning of public resources into the military industrial complex, can a nation engaged in perpetual war be a democratic one? Dr. Campbell’s presentation will contribute to critically informed perspectives that alert Canadians to the risks implicit in Canada’s growing belligerence and militarization.
Sponsor: This event is solely supported by a CRISS grant from the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Date: Friday, February 27, 2015 Location: TH 243
Time: 2PM-4PM
Open to all, light refreshments served.
