Peter Kasurak, *The Unequal Dialogue: Canadian Civil-Military Relations, 1950-2025*. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2026.

This monograph uncovers the escalating tensions in civil-military relations since the Second World War, as Canadian civil and military societies have increasingly disagreed on the objectives and composition of the armed forces. From the onset of the Cold War, through the discussions on nuclear weapons, and into the Afghanistan war, civilian government agencies and policymakers have worked to ensure that the armed forces of a small nation like Canada remain relevant in a thermonuclear context, while also making sure that military membership reflects the wider population. This has led to ongoing crises regarding the role and combat capabilities of the armed forces, as well as the inclusion of francophones, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The result has been a continuous cycle of civilian directives, military resistance, and civilian interventions to enforce necessary changes. In this uneven dialogue, the armed services have struggled to articulate a Canadian military identity, while civilians have primarily engaged to alter policies, always having the final say. In this research, Peter Kasurak recommends two key changes to break this stalemate. Political leaders should become more actively and consistently involved in shaping military policy, while the military must reevaluate its understanding of the profession of arms to better align with civil society, rather than focusing on independence and separation. This well-researched and impartial study provides valuable insights for scholars and students of military history, Canadian politics, political science, and security studies, as well as for both civil and military stakeholders in the defense community.