A Cooperative Disagreement: Canada-United States Relations and Revolutionary Cuba, 1959–93

Greg Marchildon talks to John M. Dirks about his book, A Co-operative Disagreement: Canada-United States Relations and Revolutionary Cuba, 1959-93, published by UBC Press in August 2022. John Dirks investigates efforts at the senior and working levels of Canada-US diplomacy and bureaucracy to find mutually advantageous ways of cooperating, despite their respective approaches to revolutionary Cuba. When Washington sought the downfall of the communist regime through political isolation and economic strangulation, Canada had deep commercial ties with Cuba and chose engagement instead. These differences in policy created the potential for significant friction, but the burden fell on Canada, as the smaller power, to initiate mitigation strategies. Ultimately, these two North American powers continued to adhere to the hard policy boundaries set by their own governments while establishing a mutually beneficial relationship on issues of intelligence, travel, and other areas of engagement with Cuba. Drawing on archival documents from both sides of the border, many newly declassified, this comprehensive study reveals how officials in Ottawa and Washington managed to preserve bilateral harmony despite ongoing policy divergence. Based on deft and thorough archival research, this work will appeal not only to scholars of Canadian foreign policy, diplomatic history, and political history but also to diplomats and others working in the foreign policy field. John M. Dirks is a historian and professional archivist. Now with the City of Toronto, he taught for several years in the International Relations Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Image Credit: UBC Press If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.