Rethinking Canadian Aid, 2nd ed., by Stephen Brown, Molly den Heyer, and David R. Black (eds.)

Date01 June 2017
DOI10.1177/0020702017709265
AuthorHunter McGill
Published date01 June 2017
Subject MatterBook Reviews
Bothwell demonstrates the similarities between the two countries and the ways
in which their histories have been closely intertwined from the colonial period. He
neither seeks similarities where they do not exist nor does he conjure up dif‌ferences
that are not there. The resulting analysis is rich, complex, and nuanced. Bothwell
avoids superf‌icial generalizations, seeing Canada and the United States as highly
diverse countries and recognizing the disparities in size and power between them.
He accomplishes the tricky feat of working Britain into the bilateral relationship.
While he is often critical of the United States—as in his analysis of the American
war in Iraq—he is never anti-American. His critiques of the United States are not
ref‌lexive or visceral, nor are they expressed in one-sided, sweeping statements.
Bothwell repeats a metaphor that he has used before: the United States is
‘‘Canada’s much larger twin’’ (6–7). Over the last 300 years, the two countries
have closely resembled one another ‘‘on virtually every level’’ (9) and have inhab-
ited ‘‘the same moral universe’’ (94). Bothwell’s analysis leads to the conclusion
that these twins are fraternal, not identical: ‘‘What can be found in the United
States can be found, soon enough, in Canada. But it is seldom found in the same
proportions, and it frequently occurs at dif‌ferent times’’ (9).
Throughout the book, Bothwell displays a lively style, sharp wit, and impressive
range of expertise, a range that at times seems to cover the entire history of
Canada, the United States, and Europe over the last 500 years. If there is a weak-
ness, it is that space constraints prevent Bothwell from developing some of his
insights before moving on to the next topic. The book is full of Bothwell’s sharp
wit, right down to the endnotes. ‘‘As for Diefenbaker,’’ one note reads, ‘‘since
fulmination was his natural mode of expression, it is hard to tell what he really
thought’’ (383n8). In another note, Bothwell compares the ‘‘then-gruesome’’ wines
of New York State in the 1960s to those of southern Ontario (385n35).
My Country, Your Country is a far-reaching work, brimming with insights and
written with verve. Bothwell conf‌idently articulates views developed through dec-
ades of archival research and an impressive command of the historical literature. The
book is not a reference work, like so many history texts, designed to sit on a shelf and
be consulted from time to time. It is instead a volume to be read with pleasure.
Stephen Brown, Molly den Heyer, and David R. Black (eds.)
Rethinking Canadian Aid, 2nd ed.
University of Ottawa Press: Ottawa, 2016; 339pp., $39.95 (paperback)
ISBN 978 -0 -7766 -2364 -1
Reviewed by: Hunter McGill, Senior Fellow, School of International Development and Global
Studies, University of Ottawa, Hunter.Mcgill@uottawa.ca
With the change of government in Canada in late 2015 and the proclamation by the
new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, that ‘‘Canada is back’’ on the world stage, it is
very timely to be able to consultRethinking Canadian Aid as we await theoutcome of
the international assistance review, unde rway at the time this commentary is being
280 International Journal 72(2)

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