The question presented in the title is discussed by mostly Canadian analysts brought together by the Center for International Relations at Queen's University in Ontario. They are perplexed by the rapid mood changes underway in their neighbor to the south, from the high of the Persian Gulf War to the 1992 swing away from foreign affairs. What does this portend for America's engagement abroad? These scholars are mindful of the uncertainty inherent in Canada's February 1992 decision to withdraw the country's forces from Germany by 1995 while remaining "committed" to Europe's security. They hesitantly conclude that if the United States does not find a new global purpose within international institutions, it will engage only selectively and could slide into isolationism.
