Canada-Africa Relations

'Former prime minister Paul Martin notes in his preface to the book that there is and will continue to be a huge role for other countries to take the lead in providing engineering and financial expertise to big projects that will become increasingly common as the region develops. "The question is," he writes, "will Canada be there?" (Don Cayo, Vancouver Sun 'This edition of Canada Among Nations rightly rejects the notion that Canada currently has (and only ever had) "humanitarian interests" in Africa. Ultimately, this collection will stand or fall on whether it makes a convincing case that Africa matters to Canada in the 21st century. It has not only accomplished that task but has also provided convincing evidence of the entrenched obstacles that prevent many Canadians from "seeing" interests, change, and opportunity in Africa and has offered various practical, if at times contentious or self-serving, policy prescriptions. As Gerald Helleiner argues in the summary chapter, 'the aid-based and implicitly patronizing relationships of the past cannot remain dominant' (295). Readers will no doubt agree.' (Christ WJ Roberts, International Journal) '[The] editors of the book must be commended for the excellent structure, organization, and consistency across chapter contributions to the theme of the book. The book is a must read for all development economists and policy-makers on both sides. A good read.' (Lynette Gwantwa Mwaikinda)