How can Canada prepare for an isolationist and unpredictable leader in the White House in 2025?

The American-led global order has been increasingly challenged by Chinese assertiveness and Russian revanchism. As we enter this new era of great-power competition, Canadians tend to assume that the United States will continue to provide global leadership for the West.
Canada Alone sketches the more dystopian future that is likely to result when the illiberal, anti-democratic, and authoritarian Make America Great Again movement regains power. Under the twin stresses of a reinvigorated America First policy and the purposeful abandonment of American global leadership, the West will likely fracture, leaving Canadians all alone with an increasingly dysfunctional United States. Canada Alone outlines what Canadians will need to navigate this deeply unfamiliar post-American world.

Kim Richard Nossal is a professor of political science at Queen’s University. He is a former president of the Canadian Political Science Association and former editor of International Journal. From 2001 to 2012, he was the chair of the academic selection committee of the Security and Defence Forum of the Department of National Defence. He is also the author of a number of works on Canada’s foreign and defence policy. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Kim Richard Nossal's profile page

This book surveys the state of global affairs in early 2023 and makes informed predictions. Recommended for all political science and global studies collections.

Library Journal

A concise, compelling, and very concerning analysis of the challenges that Canada — and the West as a whole — face from the ongoing Trumpian crisis in American politics.

Hugh White, emeritus professor of strategic studies, Australian National University

With this provocative and important book, Kim Nossal has begun an essential debate.

John English, co-chair, Canadian International Council, and founding director, Bill Graham Centre

Nossal sketches a dark vision of the world we face if American global leadership continues.

Quill & Quire

Nossal’s thoughtful book is a wake-up call for Canadians, who must prepare to confront an illiberal and inward-looking neighbour.

Kenneth Holland, former president, Association for Canadian Studies in the United States

Kim Nossal delivers a dystopian vision of a world that might have already begun. Nossal’s book is also a fun, rollicking read. He compiles the best of mainstream media and academic analysis and throws in surprisingly colourful adjectives about the Trump Presidency.

Kerry Buck, former Canadian ambassador to NATO