Canada is one of the most prominent and influential countries in the world. It sits right on our doorstep, yet a surprising number of Americans have little knowledge of it and have never visited. There are many similarities between the two countries, and they share a long history of friendly relations and cooperation. But there are also substantial differences and some frictions.

In this four-week course we will review Canada and its many peoples, their cultures and way of life, particularly noting history and the resultant dual English-French society. We will describe the government structure and politics, and the ongoing policies of the current Trudeau government. We will cover the economy, social issues, immigration, and international relations. We will also discuss the following topics, contrasting them with the U.S. when pertinent: Canada’s universal health care system; education; family services and safety nets; and retirement and old age.

This will be primarily a lecture course with discussions. We will draw from the textbook indicated below. And we expect that some participants will give short reports on selected topics.