Carleton University’s Stephen M. Saideman, Paterson Chair in International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), has launched a new book entitled Adapting in the Dust: Lessons Learned from Canada’s War in Afghanistan.
“Adapting in the Dust seeks to understand how the Canadian political system deals with the stress of a major international effort,“ said Saideman. “Afghanistan challenged the Canadian military, its diplomats, its politicians, its media and the public. This book considers which actors adapted well, poorly, or not at all, raising issues Canadians need to consider as new missions in various military campaigns are on the horizon.”
Canada’s six-year military mission in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province was one of the most intense and challenging times in Canadian foreign affairs since the Korean War. A complex war fought in an inhospitable environment, the Afghanistan mission tested not just Canada’s soldiers but its politicians, public servants and policy-makers. This book considers how well the Canadian government, media and public managed the challenge.
Building on interviews with military officers, civilian officials and politicians, Saideman shows how the prime minister, political parties and Parliament responded to the demands of a costly and controversial mission. Some adapted well; others adapted poorly or – worse yet – in ways that protected careers but harmed the mission.
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