Navigating the realm of foreign policy is a multifaceted challenge. Typically, obstacles and proposed solutions are seen as distinct unless a leader can rally enough support for an idea that promotes cohesion. As the prime minister often puts forth this idea – setting the agenda and evaluating if the timing is right for a viable, effective solution – Canadian foreign policy can be summarized through the actions of these leaders.

This monograph explores how prime ministers from Sir John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau have shaped foreign policy by manipulating governmental structures, selecting and discarding options, and leaving their imprint on the process.

Contributors provide new, sometimes surprising perspectives on a wide range of policy choices – whether to raise or lower departmental budgets, to create or dismantle alliances, to engage in trade relations, and to handle the prime minister’s personal diplomacy – particularly regarding how these choices affected the bureaucracies tasked with implementing foreign policy both diplomatically and militarily.

No other publication has undertaken a thorough examination of the crucial role Canadian prime ministers play in crafting foreign policy. This innovative viewpoint is bound to foster a renewed appreciation for the essential personal engagement and insight necessary for a successful strategy in international relations.