Interpreting NAFTA - by Frederick Mayer (Paperback)

About the Book

Drawing on a wide range of documents and interviews with officials in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well the author's experience as an aide to Senator Bill Bradley during negotiations, Interpreting NAFTA is a history of the agreement's development, from opening talks to final passage.

Book Synopsis

Drawing on a wide range of documents and interviews with officials in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well the author's experience as an aide to Senator Bill Bradley during negotiations, Interpreting NAFTA is a history of the agreement's development, from opening talks to final passage. Frederick W. Mayer combines recent work in international relations, comparative politics, interest groups, and public opinion to develop a broad theoretical framework that crosses between international relations and domestic politics. Mayer demonstrates that to understand NAFTA, one must view it as simultaneously a matter of political interests, institutions, and ideas.

Review Quotes

An excellent example of using theory to illuminate a particular event.-- "H-Net Reviews"

Mayer has produced an excellent political economy treatise on the conceptualization and launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement--probably the definitive treatment of the subject available today.--I. Walter, New York University "Choice"

Mayer'sInterpreting NAFTA: The Science and Art of Political Analysis quickly became a classic in the field.... Mayer's conceptual framework creatively shows how rational choice, institutional process, and symbolic analysis are each incomplete yet complementary. His combination of crisp, accessible prose and an eclectic conceptual approach works well.--Jonathan Fox "Latin American Research Review"

About the Author

Frederick W. Mayer is an associate professor of public policy and political science at Duke University.