In the 1950s most of Acadian society was poor, uneducated, isolated, and dominated by the Roman Catholic clergy. In the following decade two individuals, Pierre E. Trudeau and Louis J. Robichaud, pointed the way for Acadians like Savoie to make important contributions to Canada's development. Trudeau's objective was Canadian unity and he turned to Acadie to show Quebec that there was a viable French Canadian presence outside their borders. Robichaud, New Brunswick's first elected Acadian premier, had witnessed Acadian poverty first hand and made it his mission to bring New Brunswick into the modern era. Savoie shows how their efforts led to fundamental change for both Canada and New Brunswick and changed his life.

Donald J. Savoie est titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du Canada en administration publique et gouvernance (niveau 1) à l'Université de Moncton. Il a remporté de nombreux prix, dont le prix Donner 2016 pour What Is Government Good At? Il a été fait Officier de l'Ordre du Canada (1993), élu membre de la Société royale du Canada (1992) et a reçu huit doctorats honorifiques de la part d'universités canadiennes.

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