ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the logic behind the variance and shows why neoclassical realism would offer a convincing explanation for Canada’s behavior toward the Alliance over time. One of the more prevalent ideas linked to strategic culture is that as a middle power sharing the North American continent with the United States (US), Canada has tended to seek a “counterweight” in Western Europe. Canada’s commitments to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were greatest at the outset of the 70 years and declined as the years progressed to a rough equilibrium. Measuring the scale of commitment through the number of military personnel and government of Canada spending on defense reveals this pattern quickly. NATO membership is also a reflection of an Atlanticist orientation on the part of Canada. NATO affords the ability for Ottawa to be transatlantic without having to deal with questions of national unity or concerns that Canada has become subordinate to the US.
