FREDERICK W. MAYER is an associate professor of public policy and political science at Duke University.

"An excellent example of using theory to illuminate a particular event." -- H-Net Reviews "Mayer has produced an excellent political economy treatise on the conceptualization and launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- probably the definitive treatment of the subject available today." -- Choice "Mayer's Interpreting NAFTA: The Science and Art of Political Analysis quickly became a classic in the field... Mayer's conceptual framework creatively shows how rational choice, institutional process, and symbolic analysis are each incomplete yet complementary. His combination of crisp, accessible prose and an eclectic conceptual approach works well." -- Jonathan Fox, Latin American Research Review

• 1. Introduction 2. A Framework for Political Analysis 3. Why a North American Free Trade Agreement?Interpreting the Decision to Negotiate:The Uses and Limits of International Theory 4. Domestic Politics Matters: The Fast Track FightInterpreting the Domestic Politics of Decision:The Role of Institutions and Interests 5. Two-Level Bargaining: The NAFTA NegotiationInterpreting International Negotiations:Domestic Politics and International Bargaining 6. Making Side Issues Central: The Labor and Environment NegotiationsInterpreting the Side Negotiations: Issue Linkage, Deep Nesting, and the Political Context 7. Symbolic Politics: Growing Grassroots OppositionInterpreting Grassroots Opposition:The Markets for Meaning 8. Diagnosis and Strategy: The Campaign for NAFTAInterpreting the Victory:Political Diagnosis and Political Strategy 9. Conclusions

FREDERICK W. MAYER is an associate professor of public policy and political science at Duke University.

"An excellent example of using theory to illuminate a particular event." -- H-Net Reviews "Mayer has produced an excellent political economy treatise on the conceptualization and launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- probably the definitive treatment of the subject available today." -- Choice "Mayer's Interpreting NAFTA: The Science and Art of Political Analysis quickly became a classic in the field... Mayer's conceptual framework creatively shows how rational choice, institutional process, and symbolic analysis are each incomplete yet complementary. His combination of crisp, accessible prose and an eclectic conceptual approach works well." -- Jonathan Fox, Latin American Research Review

• 1. Introduction 2. A Framework for Political Analysis 3. Why a North American Free Trade Agreement?Interpreting the Decision to Negotiate:The Uses and Limits of International Theory 4. Domestic Politics Matters: The Fast Track FightInterpreting the Domestic Politics of Decision:The Role of Institutions and Interests 5. Two-Level Bargaining: The NAFTA NegotiationInterpreting International Negotiations:Domestic Politics and International Bargaining 6. Making Side Issues Central: The Labor and Environment NegotiationsInterpreting the Side Negotiations: Issue Linkage, Deep Nesting, and the Political Context 7. Symbolic Politics: Growing Grassroots OppositionInterpreting Grassroots Opposition:The Markets for Meaning 8. Diagnosis and Strategy: The Campaign for NAFTAInterpreting the Victory:Political Diagnosis and Political Strategy 9. Conclusions

FREDERICK W. MAYER is an associate professor of public policy and political science at Duke University.

"An excellent example of using theory to illuminate a particular event." -- H-Net Reviews "Mayer has produced an excellent political economy treatise on the conceptualization and launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- probably the definitive treatment of the subject available today." -- Choice "Mayer's Interpreting NAFTA: The Science and Art of Political Analysis quickly became a classic in the field... Mayer's conceptual framework creatively shows how rational choice, institutional process, and symbolic analysis are each incomplete yet complementary. His combination of crisp, accessible prose and an eclectic conceptual approach works well." -- Jonathan Fox, Latin American Research Review

• 1. Introduction 2. A Framework for Political Analysis 3. Why a North American Free Trade Agreement?Interpreting the Decision to Negotiate:The Uses and Limits of International Theory 4. Domestic Politics Matters: The Fast Track FightInterpreting the Domestic Politics of Decision:The Role of Institutions and Interests 5. Two-Level Bargaining: The NAFTA NegotiationInterpreting International Negotiations:Domestic Politics and International Bargaining 6. Making Side Issues Central: The Labor and Environment NegotiationsInterpreting the Side Negotiations: Issue Linkage, Deep Nesting, and the Political Context 7. Symbolic Politics: Growing Grassroots OppositionInterpreting Grassroots Opposition:The Markets for Meaning 8. Diagnosis and Strategy: The Campaign for NAFTAInterpreting the Victory:Political Diagnosis and Political Strategy 9. Conclusions