Continentalism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Continentalism refers to the agreements or policies that favor the regionalization and/or cooperation between nations within a continent. The term is used more often in the European and North American contexts, but the concept has been applied to other continents.

1 Continentalism in North America
- 1.1 United States
- 1.2 Canada
2 See also

[edit] Continentalism in North America

[edit] United States

Historically, the United States of America saw itself as a blossoming continental nation-state. Accordingly, the first governing body for the North American colonists was called the Continental Congress, which sought to receive delegates from across the populated continent, including the future Canadian provinces of Province of Quebec (1763-1791) and Nova Scotia.

Continentalism later became largely associated with the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which included Spanish territories in the present-day western U.S. as well as Canada.

[edit] Canada

In Canadian political history, continentalism has referred to policies that emphasize Canadian trade and economic ties within the North American continent, particularly the United States, over those with the United Kingdom and the British Empire. In the 19th century Continetialism was one of the three main theories of Canadian nationality, the others being pro-British Imperialism, and Canadian independence.

The most extreme form of Continentalism is Annexationism, which advocates all or part of Canada joining the United States. Opponents of continentalism often argue that stronger ties with the United State could eventually lead to annexation, and that this is to be feared. Continentalists themselves may or may not be in favour of continuing to deepen ties with the United States beyond the economic and into areas like a customs union, common border, common currency, or even political union.

The traditional proponent of continentalism was the Liberal Party of Canada and particularly farmers and resource industries that advocated reciprocity (i.e., free trade) with the United States.

However, the Progressive Conservative Party took on many continentalist policies beginning during the Brian Mulroney government in the 1980s, which promoted and successfully signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. These policies were maintained by the Liberal and Conservative Party of Canada governments that followed Mulroney's.

Continentalism today is seen in both negative and positive terms. Canadian economic nationalists typically oppose continentalism. Opposing this, many pro-market neo-liberals and neo-conservatives tend to favour it, on the grounds that it opens up commercial and economic opportunities, allowing free trade between nations.