John Hilliker joined the historical staff of the Department of External Affairs, now Global Affairs Canada, in 1975, and retired as Head of the Section in 2003.Mary Halloran is a member of the Historical Section of Global Affairs Canada and is the author of several articles and papers on the official history of the Department of External Affairs.Greg Donaghy is Head of the Historical Section of Global Affairs Canada and general editor of its series, Documents on Canadian External Relations.

"John Hilliker, Mary Halloran, and Greg Donaghy have produced the definitive institutional history of the Department of External Affairs during the Trudeau era.  Well written and impressively researched, it will be cited by scholars for years to come."- Adam Chapnick, Department of Defence Studies, Royal Military College of Canada "Canada’s Department of External Affairs is a major contribution to historical research. The authors’ scholarship is sound, the research exhaustive, and the range of sources utilized is extremely impressive. The book maintains the high quality of thoroughness of the first two volumes in the series and is a first rate contribution to our understanding of the Department of External Affairs, the Trudeau years more generally, and the evolution of Canada’s foreign policy."- David MacKenzie, Department of History, Ryerson University "Offering the most comprehensive account of this era in the [Department of External Affairs’] history, and written for historians and students of Canadian international relations, Innovations and Adaptation will be a trusted companion to both policy-makers and policy enthusiasts for years to come."- Ryan M. Touhey, University of Waterloo (The Canadian Historical Review vol. 99 no. 3, 2018) "…an indispensable source for scholars of Canadian foreign relations for years to come."- Kevin Brushett, Royal Military College of Canada (British Journal of Canadian Studies, vol 31 no 2)

• PrefaceChapter One: New Guys with New Ideas, 1968-69Chapter Two: A Government with Plans, 1969-70Chapter Three: The Limits of Planning, 1970-72Chapter Four: Minority Government, 1972-74 Chapter Five: A Respectable Role, 1974-76Chapter Six: A Mandate for Change, 1976-79Chapter Seven: A Change of Government, 1979-80Chapter Eight: A Return of the Liberals, 1980-82Chapter Nine: Completing the Reform Agenda, 1982-84Epilogue: Same Old GangEndnotes