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Like-minded Nations and Contrasting Diplomatic Styles: Australian and Canadian Approaches to Agricultural Trade*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Andrew Fenton Cooper
Andrew Fenton Cooper
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo
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Abstract

The pairing of Australia and Canada has become a rich source of comparative studies with respect to foreign economic policy. This matching has been largely inspired by the like-mindedness of the two countries. Yet, if Australia and Canada may be said to have similar objectives in terms of the international system, the methods through which they have attempted to pursue these objectives have differed sharply. Using international-level and domestic-level modes of analysis, this article explains the reasons for the contrasting style in the case of agricultural trade. It is demonstrated that a number of mutually reinforcing factors combine to give a tough-minded quality to Australia's approach. In contrast, because of both a greater complexity in the domestic policy-making process and the range of foreign policy options, Canada's style in the agricultural trade issue has become increasingly nuanced.

Résumé

Les études comparant l'Australie et le Canada sont devenues une source riche d'enseignements sur la politique économique étrangère. Les similitudes entre les deux pays ont inspiré ces comparaisons. Ceal dit, bien que les deux pays aient des objectifs semblables dans le système international, leurs méthodes diffèrent nettement. En considérant tant le contexte internationale que les contextes nationaux, cet article expose les raisons qui expliquent ces styles différents dans le cas du commerce agricole. Une combinaison de facteurs ont conduit l'Australie à adopter une orientation plus radicale. Aucontraire, le Canada adopte des positions de plus en plus flexibles en matière de commerce agricole, à la fois en raison de la complexité de sa politique intérieure et de l'éventail de ses orientations en politique étrangère.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , June 1992 , pp. 349 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1992

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