Review: Neighbors across the Pacific
| Author | Kazuhiko Okuda |
| Published date | 01 March 1984 |
| Date | 01 March 1984 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070208403900118 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
REVIEWS
231
Unfortunately,
the
book
suffers
from
a
number
of
deficiencies.
First,
it
is
organized
as
a
series
of
brief
descriptions
of
different
eras
or
decisions.
These
vignettes do
not
always
fit
into
a
logical
sequence,
causing
the
entire presentation
to
appear
disjointed.
Second,
back-
ground
information
about
the
views
of
major
actors
is
scarce.
Those
who
seek
a
better
understanding
of
the
foreign
policy
perspectives
of
Laurier,
King,
St
Laurent,
or
Pearson
will
find
little
here
to
enrich
their
studies.
Third,
while
the
author
attaches
importance
to
the
actions
of
the
great
powers,
there
is
almost
nothing
on
their
wider
strategies
or
designs
in
the
Middle
East.
Despite
these
drawbacks, Dr
Kay
has
done
original
research
on
a
subject
about
which
there
are
more
than
a
few
myths
and
misconcep-
tions.
His
analysis
is
at
times
insightful,
and
readers
can
benefit from
this
short but
highly
readable
book.
David
Taras/University
of
Toronto
NEIGHBORS
ACROSS
THE
PACIFIC
The
development
of
economic
and
political
relations
between
Canada
and
Japan
Klaus
H.
Pringsheim
Westport
CT:
Greenwood
Press,
1983, xviii,
2411pp,
US$29.9
5
No
useful
survey
of
Canada-Japan
relations
has
been
available
thus
far,
and Professor
Pringsheim
should
be
applauded
for
undertaking
such
a
task.
Understandably,
he
relies
on
government
documents
and
the
interviews
he
conducted
with
the
politicians,
civil
servants,
and
businessmen
of
both
countries.
The
result
is
an impressive
array
of
views
drawn
from
many vantage
points and
representing
various
interests.
Though
the
book
seeks
to
be a
comprehensive
study
of
the
relationship,
the
focus
is
really
largely
on bilateral
trade,
which
is
assumed
to
be
the
most
important
aspect
of
relations
between
the
two
nations.
The
composition
of
that
trade,
which
has
been
exacerbated
by
the
Canadian
desire
(as
yet
unfulfilled)
to
sell
more
manufactured
goods
to
Japan,
is
a
major
issue.
Manufactured
goods
average only
2.3
per
cent
of
the
total
exports
to
Japan
(pp
164,
198),
and
the
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