This volume investigates the long-term impact and policy legacy of Lloyd Axworthy, Canada's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, within the broader context of Canadian international relations. The authors, all affiliated with Carleton University, utilize a dual-part analytical framework to evaluate Axworthy's specific diplomatic contributions—most notably the Ottawa Treaty on landmines—while simultaneously projecting future challenges for Canadian foreign policy in the early 21st century.

Experts and political science scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the shift in Canadian diplomatic priorities during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The text is noted for its academic rigor and its balanced approach to evaluating the efficacy of individual ministerial legacies.