Stefanie von Hlatky, a Quebec summer scholar at the Canada Institute, presented her work which explores Canada-U.S. military cooperation in a variety of settings. Her current research on the drivers of military contributions within alliances is part of a broader book project, "The Great Asymmetry: American Allies in Times of War," that compares war-time contributions from the United States' closest allies: Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Von Hlatky's presentation focused on the decision-making processes in Canada prior to the wars in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003). She demonstrated how Canada, through various strategies, negotiated its specific role in each war with its powerful partner, the United States. Von Hlatky contends that allies can and do use asymmetric bargaining strategies to achieve foreign policy objectives, despite power differentials.