Professor Stephen Clarkson discusses Canadian political clout in Washington D.C.

November 4, 2011

Professor Stephen Clarkson wants to know why Canada and Mexico have so little political clout in Washington, D.C., relative to the economic and labour contributions they make to their common neighbour.

The University of Toronto political scientist is the author, with Matto Rattenberger, of Dependent America: How Canada and Mexico Construct Power. The book launched recently with a panel discussion at the Munk Centre for Global Affairs featuring Clarkson, Globe and Mail journalist Maria Jimenez and U of T’s Robert Bothwell of history, Don Brean of the Rotman School of Management and Louis Pauly of the Munk School.

“If Canada and Mexico are so important to the U.S., why are they so impotent in Washington?” asked Clarkson. “By far, they are the most important external contributors to U.S. economic strength, global power and security.”

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