North American Relations POL3148 A Fall 2014 Week 1

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations Main hypothesis: North American integration is stalled Economic, social, security/defence, POLITICAL…

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations Sovereign states, dependent territories, and other areas in North America 23 “sovereign states” (from Antigua & Barbuda to the United States) 11 “dependent territories” (from Anguilla to the US Virgin Islands) and 15 “other areas” (Above, one of the “most inclusive definition of North America, which covers the landmass north of the Panama-Colombia border, and the islands of the Caribbean” – one of the common views, reflected by Wikipedia)

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations Central America and the Caribbean – part of North America? Central America and the Caribbean – part of North America? Third largest continent after Asia and Africa as territory Third largest continent after Asia and Africa as territory Fourth largest continent in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe Fourth largest continent in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe Largest free trade area in world! Largest free trade area in world! Some of the largest economies in world: United States USD 15.1 trillion, Mexico USD 1.7 trillion, Canada USD1.7 trillion (#1, 11, and 14 in world – source: IMF, 2011 est.) Some of the largest economies in world: United States USD 15.1 trillion, Mexico USD 1.7 trillion, Canada USD1.7 trillion (#1, 11, and 14 in world – source: IMF, 2011 est.)

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations What we mean by North America in this course: Canada United States of America Mexico

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations 2012: US population 314 million, Mexico 115 million, Canada 35 million” (sources: census.gov, cia.gov, statcan.gc.ca) 2012: US population 314 million, Mexico 115 million, Canada 35 million” (sources: census.gov, cia.gov, statcan.gc.ca) 2050s, est.: US 438 million, Mexico 130 million - peaking in 2044, Canada 42.5 million (sources: Pew Research Center, Mexico’s National Population Commission, statcan.gc.ca) 2050s, est.: US 438 million, Mexico 130 million - peaking in 2044, Canada 42.5 million (sources: Pew Research Center, Mexico’s National Population Commission, statcan.gc.ca) America’s dominant historical role in the region, dominant presence in the decades to come America’s dominant historical role in the region, dominant presence in the decades to come The US spends over 1 trillion USD on its armed forces every year, the largest national defence budget in the world - roughly 43 per cent of the world's military expenditures. The US spends over 1 trillion USD on its armed forces every year, the largest national defence budget in the world - roughly 43 per cent of the world's military expenditures. US: first national economic output in the world - about one fifth of the world's total output. US: first national economic output in the world - about one fifth of the world's total output.

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations NAFTA: as of 2010, the largest trade bloc in the world (in terms of combined GDP of its members) NAFTA: as of 2010, the largest trade bloc in the world (in terms of combined GDP of its members) (2010) US exports to Canada USD 248 billion, to Mexico USD 163 billion (top purchasers of US exports in 2010) (2010) US exports to Canada USD 248 billion, to Mexico USD 163 billion (top purchasers of US exports in 2010) US exports to NAFTA (Canada and Mexico) up 149% from 1994 and up 190% from 1993 (the year prior to NAFTA) US exports to NAFTA (Canada and Mexico) up 149% from 1994 and up 190% from 1993 (the year prior to NAFTA) (2010) US imports from Canada 276 billion, from Mexico 230 billion (2nd and 3rd suppliers of goods to US) (2010) US imports from Canada 276 billion, from Mexico 230 billion (2nd and 3rd suppliers of goods to US) Three-way trade expected to reach USD 1 trillion - from under USD 300 billion in 1993 (source: Three-way trade expected to reach USD 1 trillion - from under USD 300 billion in 1993 (source:

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations (2008) Canada and United States' inward FDI from NAFTA partner countries reached USD 470 billion (2008) Canada and United States' inward FDI from NAFTA partner countries reached USD 470 billion Mexico received more than USD 156 billion in FDI from NAFTA partners between 1993 and 2008 (source: Mexico received more than USD 156 billion in FDI from NAFTA partners between 1993 and 2008 (source: Since NAFTA came into effect, the North American economy has more than doubled in size Since NAFTA came into effect, the North American economy has more than doubled in size North America = NAFTA+? North America = NAFTA+?

Source: The Economist, Jan. 13, 2011

Source: BMO, Globe & Mail, Jan. 21, 2011

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations NAFTA, SPP, NORAD, immigration, border management, social issues, identity, energy, environmental issues, Amero, 9/11 attacks, global financial crisis, just-in-time business (auto), multi-level governance, level of analysis (int’l, regional, nat’l, sub-nat’l, pers.), bi-/tri-lateralism…

WHAT IS NORTH AMERICA? Conceptualizations Questions?Comments?