Canada In The World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination

by Tyler A Shipley

An accessible and empirically rich introduction to Canada’s engagements in the world since confederation, this book charts a unique path by locating Canada’s colonial foundations at the heart of the analysis. Canada in the World begins by arguing that the colonial relations with Indigenous peoples represent the first example of foreign policy, and demonstrates how these relations became a foundational and existential element of the new state. Colonialism―the project to establish settler capitalism in North America and the ideological assumption that Europeans were more advanced and thus deserved to conquer the Indigenous people―says Shipley, lives at the very heart of Canada.

Through a close examination of Canadian foreign policy, from crushing an Indigenous rebellion in El Salvador, “peacekeeping” missions in the Congo and Somalia, and Cold War interventions in Vietnam and Indonesia, to Canadian participation in the War on Terror, Canada in the World finds that this colonial heart has dictated Canada’s actions in the world since the beginning.

Highlighting the continuities across more than 150 years of history, Shipley demonstrates that Canadian policy and behaviour in the world is deep-rooted, and argues that changing this requires rethinking the fundamental nature of Canada itself.

Genres: History, Canada, Nonfiction, Politics, Indigenous, Economics

452 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2020

Reviews

[jac · Rating 5 out of 5]

My experience with this book can be summed up as follows:



Great book with accessible and engaging writing. It covers a staggering amount of history in a well-chosen amount of detail. Shipley's commentary was very insightful and he makes convincing arguments for the thesis with ample evidence. A must-read for any anti-imperialist in so-called canada.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brutal takedown of the notion many of us here in the "U.S." have of "Canada" being a socialistic haven of goody-two-shoes who say "sorry" a funny way all the time and are unapologetically nice. No, this book systematically makes the reader realize that "Canada" is just as much of a genocidal, imperialist, settler-capitalist colonial project as the "U.S." is through an extremely well-sourced, chronological walkthrough of the country's blood-soaked history. My only qualms are that I wish the amazing sources were formatted so they were at the bottom of each corresponding page instead of in bulk at the end of each chapter. I also have some further ideological differences with how Shipley characterizes the countries in the "socialist camp" in terms of whether or not some should in fact actually be considered socialist/progressive or simply counter-hegemonic forces to western imperialism, but this does not detract from my 5-star review because these points are far from the main purpose of the book, which in my view Shipley simply excels at getting across.

[Jaylani Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good book for leftist to use it as an argument against imperialism, outsourcing and how Canada is being a supporter of American imperialism and other negative traits that is dealing with. Canada should really need to change its image. It is sad, depressing and at the same time, angry to read this book but important to learn the lessons of the past as a colonialist and imperialist supporter.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canada crafts a narrative about itself as peace-keeping nation, beloved around the world as a friendly force for good. Sure, Canada will reluctantly acknowledge a few stains on its reputation — activism around the residential school system and genocide of the First Nations has grown too loud to ignore. But these historical beats are seen as blemishes, unconnected to Canada’s broader national identity.

In Canada In The World, Tyler Shipley corrects this narrative, starting first with early settler relationships with First Nations to show the through-line between Canada’s settler colonial origins and its continued colonial exploitation domestically and abroad. Shipley emphasizes large structural forces like capitalism, industrialization, and material geopolitical interests, over individual personalities and cultural clashes. With this method, he builds a cohesive narrative that covers several centuries of history in just 500-odd pages. Shipley often takes explicit aim at Canada’s nation-building mainstays like Canada Heritage Minutes and grade 10 history texts, and weaves in familiar media and contemporary history and the occasional personal anecdote. He draws from a vast set of secondary and tertiary texts, summarizing their theses and contextualizing them into his overarching narrative. The result is a compelling, approachable text that should be, for now, the definitive introductory leftist text on Canadian international political history, with a bibliography that lends itself well to further study.

The book is strongest in its first half, which covers Canada’s settler colonial origins up through its tepid opposition to fascism in the mid-twentieth century. The latter half drags somewhat: Canada has been very active in the world during the so-called Cold War and the periods that followed it, supporting oppressive dictators (e.g. Chile) and overthrowing democratic socialist governments (e.g. Ecuador) with the goal of furthering its mining interests and aiding US imperialism. Shipley does an admirable job at trying to summarize the requisite history of dozens of nations to understand Canada’s role in these conflicts and connect them to the unifying theme of his book, but the goal of a comprehensive survey of such activities inevitably results in episodic vignettes packed with names and dates. Still the book compares favorably with Yves Engler’s Canada’s Long Fight Against Democracy (one wonders why Engler bothered at all; he draws from Shipley’s book as a source to create a fully inferior and redundant work), and would pair well with books like Vijay Prashad’s Washington Bullets and Vincent Bevins’ Jakarta Method, which provide more structure into the mechanisms of western foreign intervention.

It is too early to say how well the book will hold up since it was published in 2020. However, the relationship between Israel and Palestine has sharpened in the intervening years and Shipley staked out a position that would have been quite bold just five years ago, but has increasingly been adopted since. His analysis of China will likely age more poorly: he has nothing positive to say about modern day China, despite its lifting of a billion people from poverty and its emphasis on mass education, while praising similar poverty alleviation efforts when they occur in Latin America. Still, it is a fantastic corrective to the mythology of Canada.

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy five stars. a comprehensive account of all of Canada's involvement in world and national politics from settler contact to the present day. tyler shipley writes in a way that both infuriates and inspires you to think more critically about "the canadian imaginary," a topic he coins about canada's perception as a peace-making, forward thinking country. the first section, where he discusses the colonial impact on Indigenous people on turtle island, was my favourite, though at points it was very heavy to read.

please read this book!!

[Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book if you want to hate your country!

[Coralie Michon · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shipley’s discourse on modern day colonial practices criticizes Canada’s continued attempts to interfere in the sovereignty of developed/developing democracies throughout the world in support if its economic interests. His research is detailed and stands up to scrutiny: Canada’s economic and political punishment of Latin America, India and Pakistan, The Phillipines, Mexico and South America is thoroughly explored; he documents how Canada’s foreign policy is aligned with the bullying foreign policy decisions of the United States; he lists the tactics used to suppress Latin and South American opposition to Canada’s destruction of eco-systems and exploitation of labour by corporate giants such as Goldcorp and Barrick Gold; the book also documents Canada’s tacit (and in some cases active and vocal) support of the violent suppression of activists and environmental organizations who challenge such corporations.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Are we the baddies?" An interesting and punchy counterpoint to read amidst the patriotic fervour created by the Trump administration's threats to Canada's economy and sovereignty.

Shipley writes accessibly, somewhere between a popular history and a textbook. He's at his best describing Canada's damnable colonization and early history.

Perhaps ironically, I think the book weakest in discussing Canada's role in Europe. While the book is exhaustively referenced, there are a lot of secondary sources, and I was a bit dubious about certain modern claims. There's an inflection of tankie thought and "NATO BAD". You don't have to be a Ukraine boosting liberal or NAFO fella type to see the situation in Ukraine as somewhat of a complicated grey area, but this book leans hard towards a tankie or Russia-enabling perspective of 'Ukraine is a fascist state populated by Nazis, Euromaidan was all Nazis' and suggesting that the 2014 conflict was a wholly organic situation that Russia just happily came across and took advantage of. "[Chrystia] Freeland was a willing participant in the construction of a Ukraine that would have made her [Nazi] grandfather proud." Professor, come on.

Nevertheless, in the years since the book was written, many of the issues and resource exploitation he highlights have continued, and he was absolutely spot on regarding both Canadian support for Zionism, legitimate issues with anti-semitism, and the weaponization of anti-semitism against supporters of a free Palestine.

[Jacob Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic contribution to undoing the false narratives Canadians have constructed around ourselves. Focusing on foreign policy (including with Indigenous nations within what is now called Canada), Shipley expertly traces the influences of Canada's founding ideologies- settler colonialism, and liberal capitalism on its actions in the world. Despite what Heritage Minutes and state platitudes would have you believe, Canada's impact on the world has been a far from positive one. From colonial 'adventures' in Africa, to mining corporations authorising massacres in Latin America, Shipley leaves no bloody coup, underhanded deal, or complicated conflict untouched. This is an expertly constructed book, I highly recommend it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Canadian history I've read. It seems to be inspired by Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States," and continues many of the same themes in a Canadian context.

Shipley doesn't favour one political party either. He seems equally happy to show how both major parties are complicit in the crimes of capitalism and colonialism. This book utterly dispels the myth of the peace-loving Canadian that some aspects of our society have worked so hard to create.

5 🌟, must read for an understanding of how Canada is perceived internationally and domestically.

[Nicool · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for every Canadian citizen! It is enlightening from both individual (self-reflection) and historical perspectives.

The prose and storytelling were wonderful, though the (emotional) weight of the content made it a long and hard read for me. That being said, to be able to read a book which untangles what it means to be Canadian from what Canada is in the world was a powerful outcome. Truly worth the effort I put in.

Worldview shift: SUCCESS!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to make you relook and rethink about Canada and its identity, which is often based on what is taught in school and how the media potrays Canada. One does wonder about its left leaning tendencies but Shipley provides lots of evidence, often history we are unaware about from our textbooks. And so, I wonder, how much of Canada so we really know?

[Remy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a Canadian version of William Blum's Killing Hope.
Thorough, informative, but never dull. Shipley proves that Canada is not just a mere pawn doing the US's bidding, but acts with its own distinct capital interests (which naturally, align 99% of the time with the US's). A devastating but necessary read.

[Jody MacPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has made a tremendous impact on my understanding of Canada. I'm grateful to Shipley for his significant contribution to the historical record. And I agree with his conclusion--we must rebuild something better, something that is not this place we call Canada.

[DipShitBookClub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need a post script to this dealing with the Justin-era, where Canada’s foreign policy moved pretty swiftly from shirtless selfies and goofy socks to the mask off relinquishing of its sovereignty to the US.

[Johanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and researched. I appreciated the emphasis on the history of the country, but the analysis became very one sided at the end and the conclusion is pure out of this world utopia.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and covers very extensively Canada's role in the world since its own founding as a colonial empire.

[Gabriel Sims-Fewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books ever written about Canada. Absolutely essential reading for every Canadian, and anyone with the remotest interest in Canada.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Fantastic leftist history and continued legacy of Canadian colonialism across the globe.

[Comrade Zupa Ogórkowa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary read for all Canadians. Exhaustive and accessible history of Canadian colonialism and imperialism.

[Paul Chislett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Canadian needs to read this book

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty unbalanced (the soviets did nothing wrong? Canada is an evil empire?), but still worth reading for the depth of research Shipley has put into his survey

[Keegan Loucks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Can read like a textbook at times.

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandatory reading for canadian Marxists who seek to understand the canadian settler-state's origins and the intrinsic nature of canada as an imperialist nation and junior partner to the US in the western capitalist global hegemony. Absolutely engaging and interesting, truly the canadian equivalent of Michael Parenti's Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism.