In the decades following the Second World War, a number of movements focused on global developments. Groups such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were centers of international cooperation. In these relationships, there were of course great powers; the richest and most military countries often dominated the world political scene. Beyond that, there were countries that were neither the largest nor the strongest, but which exerted their influence through other means. These were middle powers, and Canada is one of them. A middle power is a country that uses its influence on issues that are perceived as "minor" on the scale of international politics – often because major powers are too busy with other matters1. influential thanks to soft power and multilateralism. Soft power can be defined as having a culture and policies that appeal to other states2. A middle power is also influential because its policies are credible and it is an independent state3. This essentially means that a middle power participates in international politics (and, in doing so, plays an influential role) through international organizations and also through multilateral discussions – often in times of crisis. Canada performed exceptionally well as a middle power in the two decades following the Second World War, participating in international organizations and playing an influential role in multilateral discussions. International organizations such as NATO and the UN are essential not only to world peace, but also as a place where middle powers can exert their influence. It is understandable that since the creation of such organizations, many crises have been averted, resolved or otherwise dealt with thanks to...... middle of document ......009): 659-686.McKee, Alexander. Vimy Ridge. London: Souvenir P., 1966McKenzie, Francine and Margaret MacMillan. Long Separated Parties: Canada and Australia in the Twentieth Century. Vancouver: UBC, 2003. Morton, Desmond. A Brief History of Canada. Edmonton: Hurtig, 1983. Pearson, Lester B. Mike; the Memoirs of the Right Honorable Lester B. Pearson. Flight. 1. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1972. Reford, Robert. Canada and three crises. Toronto: Canadian Institute of International Affairs, 1968.Rudderham, MA "The Pull of Middle Powers: Can Middle Powers Use Public Diplomacy to Improve the Image of the West." YCISS. February 2008. Soward, FH “Becoming and being a middle power: the Canadian experience”. Pacific Historical Review 32.2 (1963): 111-36. Thordarson, Bruce. Lester Pearson: diplomat and politician. Toronto: Oxford UP, 1974.