The editors take a critical look at the now almost mainstream "declinist" thesis and at the continued relevance of Canada's relationships with its principal allies - the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Contributors discuss a broad range of themes, including the weight of a changing identity in the evolution of the country's foreign policy, the fate of Canadian diplomacy as a profession, the often complicated relationship between foreign and trade policies, the impact of immigration and refugee procedures on foreign policy, and the evolving understanding of development and defence as components of Canada's foreign policy.

Contributors include Robert Bothwell (University of Toronto), Duane Bratt (Mount Royal College), Daryl Copeland (DFAIT), Jean Daudelin (Carleton University), Greg Donaghy (DFAIT), Fred Edwards (Toronto Star), Julie Gilmour (University of Toronto), David Haglund (Queen's University), Justin Massie (Queen's University), John Meehan (University of Toronto), Kathleen Rasmussen (US State Dept.), Roger Sarty (Wilfrid Laurier University), William Schabas (William National University of Ireland), Ian Smillie (Partnership Africa Canada), Cara Spittal (University of Toronto), and Gerald Wright.