ABSTRACT
North America encompasses a vast region of over 19 million square kilometres/7.3 million square miles, more than five times the size of Northern and Western Europe, or almost 15" of the world's surface. Both Canada and the United States (US) were once British colonies, Canada remaining a dependency, in one form or another, for over 280 years, while some of the states on the US eastern seaboard experienced colonial rule for about 200 years before violently winning their independence. Both countries rank high in human rights ratings but these have been achieved through different political routes. Realistically, however, Canadian political leaders have recognized the existence of common needs and goals and have been happy to join the United States in mutually beneficial endeavours, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1992 it was expanded to include Mexico, and given the title the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
