Critical Thinking

Article:

Richter, Andrew. ''From Trusted Ally to Suspicious Neighbor:Canada-U.S.
Relations in a Changing Environment.'' The American Review of Canadian
Studies (Autumn 2005): 471-502

Subject and approach: The author analyses the current status of the U.S.-Canadian relationship.

Thesis statement: “(…) the Iraq war underlined a difference between Canada and the U.S. in their preference for, and willingness to pursue, unilateral initiatives.”(Richter, p. 471)

Argument: “Ultimately, Canada’s position on Iraq demonstrated not only increasing divergence with the U.S. over geo-political interests and goals, but also revealed a lack of trust between the two countries, (…)” (Richter, p. 471)

1. What is the stated premise? Is it completely accurate?
The stated premise is that Canada’s decision not to go to war in Iraq showed the more and more important divergence with the U.S. on geo-political interests and goal and a certain lack of trust between the two neighbours. The stated premise is accurate since it answers the thesis statement.

2. What is the hidden premise?
The hidden premise is that the U.S. chose to act more and more on the basis of unilateral initiatives whereas Canada prefers multilateral initiatives. Thus, the two countries are going in totally different directions.

3. Is the statement completely accurate?
Yes, the rest of the article demonstrate it.

4. Do the premises inescapably lead to the conclusion? No other?
The premises lead to the conclusion.