The Beaver and the Bald Eagle

The author reflects on his own cross-border upbringing and long UN career, framing the book as an exploration of two democracies whose stories have intertwined for centuries but whose self-images often clash. It opens with the premise that understanding one’s neighbour may be the surest way to understand oneself.​​

Examines shared culture and rivalry in media, entertainment, and sports. From hockey to Hollywood, and the Canadian content rules that protect national identity, this chapter explores how each country defines itself in contrast to the other.

​

​

Explores governance and civic culture — from provincial alcohol laws and city capitals to the deeper differences in how fairness and freedom are interpreted. Policing, protest, and accountability are presented as expressions of national character.

Focuses on economics, work culture, and inequality. Topics range from free trade and labor rights to consumerism and overwork. The chapter also explores how both nations confront diversity and inclusion — and includes “Faux Canadian Fantasies,” a section on Americans who don the maple leaf abroad to escape stereotypes.

​

​

​

Pulls together lessons learned across the borderlands. It argues that while Canada and the U.S. may forever interpret freedom, fairness, and progress differently, their futures are intertwined. The beaver and the bald eagle both seek a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable nest — but must decide how to share the sky.

Traces the literal and figurative creation of the border. From the Oregon boundary dispute and the cry of “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” to the peaceful compromise that set the 49th parallel, the chapter reveals how geography and negotiation shaped two distinct but connected political cultures.

​​​

Compares the social contracts that govern faith and security. Why do Americans link freedom to firearms and Canadians to public safety? Why does religion animate political life in one country and retreat from it in the other?

​

​

​

Compares how the U.S. and Canada define belonging. While America celebrates the melting pot and Canada promotes multiculturalism, both wrestle with racism, reconciliation, and the legacy of exclusion.

Contrasts public trust and market pressure in education systems. From primary school funding to higher-education debt, it explores how each country’s approach shapes opportunity, class mobility, and citizenship.

Explores the moral, historical, and cultural rifts that began with Loyalists and revolutionaries, slavery and freedom, and the differing treatment of Indigenous peoples. Topics include land acknowledgments, the rise of “wokeness,” nationalism, and the subtle markers of identity that separate Canadians from Americans.

Contrasts two systems that define their nations’ values. Through history, data, and anecdote, it examines why universal health care became a cornerstone of Canadian identity and a fault line of American politics.

​

​

​

A central chapter linking climate, economy, and shared ecosystems. It examines public sentiment, energy politics, and environmental diplomacy — from acid rain to Keystone XL — concluding with a “scorecard” of successes and shortfalls on both sides of the border.

Presents original research from a public-opinion survey conducted in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The data reveals where people believe the two nations are most similar and most different — in values, politics, economy, and culture — offering a rare quantitative lens on national self-image and neighbourly perception. The chapter closes with reflections on humor, satire, and the enduring affection that binds the two peoples despite fault lines.