North America, time for a new focus /

North America was once called the New World. The people, their ideas, and the resources of the continent shaped the histories of the Old World--East and West. Today, North America is home to almost five hundred million people living in three vibrant democracies. If the three North American countries deepen their integration and cooperation, they have the potential to again shape world affairs for generations to come. For reasons of history and political culture, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are each highly protective of national sovereignty and independence. Yet twenty years ago, the three countries instituted a novel project to deepen integration while respecting sovereignty. Moreover, their special partnership bridged the North-South divide between developed and developing economies. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been the cornerstone of this new structure. The new post-Cold War North America was conceived as an integrated economy within a global system, not as a protected bloc or experiment in shared sovereignty, as was the case with the European Union.