ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a critical examination of Canada's policy towards peace, security and development in Africa. It reveals that Canada does not have an overarching policy towards Africa and that Canadian activism, which is event-driven, is based on the perceived poverty and violence in Africa. The book explores the inter-subjective construction of Canada's moral identity in Africa, which is a central element of the non-imperial internationalist approach. It examines the human security concept by outlining the diverse meanings, interpretations and debates of the concept. The book also explores how and why human security became an important focus of the Canadian government's support towards the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peace and security capacity building. It calls on the Canadian government to develop a coherent towards Africa's economic and security importance continues to grow in contemporary global politics.
