Review by Choice Review
Hale (University of Lethbridge, Canada) is an expert on Canada-US relations. His book is a useful commentary on the history of the bilateral relationship, and an often insightful analysis of recent and current issues. The first part treats the three dimensions of US-Canada relations: political/strategic, trade and commerce, and psychological-cultural. In both political and economic areas, the relations are asymmetrical; in the cultural area, anti-Americanism developed in reaction to the US invasion of Iraq. The value of the special relationship has declined, and for most Americans, Canada is an afterthought. The second part considers Canadian management of relations, including "network diplomacy," relations with Congress, public diplomacy, and lobbying (Canada is the fourth most active foreign government). Making relations easier are increased contacts of Canadian provinces with US states and multi-level governance; complicating relations are different election cycles and demographic changes in the US, raising Mexico and lowering Canada in public view. The final part examines policy issues, for example, immigration, border security, the bovine spongiform encephalopathy disease case, softwood lumber imports, and energy/environmental issues. Hale describes resolution through multi-level games involving cooperation, harmonization, and coordination. Overall, an informative study of an important relationship. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students and above. G. A. McBeath University of Alaska Fairbanks
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
