Canadian Democracy An Introduction

by Brooks, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780195423235
• ISBN10: 0195423232
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-04
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In Canadian Democracy Stephen Brooks explores the characteristics, complexities, and controversies associated with Canada's politics. Introducing the basic ideas, institutions, and processes of Canadian politics, he asks questions about the nature of Canadian democracy and focuses on issues ofindividual, group, and regional equality and freedom. Chapters on language politics, diversity in Canadian society, and Canada in the world cover issues at the core of contemporary debates on the quality of Canadian democracy. All aspects of the book have been thoroughly updated for this fifthedition, which includes a brand-new chapter on Aboriginal Politics, expanded coverage of Regionalism, numerous new tables and figures, and editorial cartoons on Canadian politics.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	viii
List of Tables	x
Preface	xi
PART ONE INTRODUCTION
An Introduction to Political Life	3	(28)
What is Politics?	4	(1)
Power	5	(2)
State and Government	7	(5)
Democracy	12	(8)
Political Identities	20	(5)
Political Fault Lines, Old and New	25	(1)
Notes	26	(1)
Suggested Readings	27	(1)
Review Exercises	27	(4)
PART TWO THE SOCIETAL CONTEXT OF POLITICS
Ideological and Institutional Roots	31	(44)
Ideologies, Values, and Institutions	31	(7)
Explaining Ideas and Institutions	38	(8)
The Political Ideas of Canadians	46	(18)
Citizen Expectations for Government	64	(6)
Notes	70	(2)
Suggested Readings	72	(1)
Review Exercises	73	(2)
The Social and Economic Setting	75	(26)
Material Well-Being	75	(3)
Equality	78	(8)
Quality of Life	86	(6)
Independence	92	(6)
Notes	98	(1)
Suggested Readings	98	(1)
Review Exercises	99	(2)
Regionalism and Canadian Politics	101	(24)
The Surprising (?) Persistence of Regionalism	101	(5)
Mapping Regionalism in Canada	106	(2)
Canada's Cultural Regions	108	(7)
Regional Identities and Western Alienation	115	(5)
Conclusion	120	(1)
Notes	120	(1)
Suggested Readings	121	(1)
Review Exercises	121	(4)
PART THREE THE STRUCTURES OF GOVERNANCE
The Constitution	125	(36)
Constitutional Functions	126	(3)
Community and Identity	129	(1)
Canada's Constitution	130	(3)
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms	133	(3)
Parliamentary Government in Canada	136	(10)
Changing the Constitution	146	(6)
Citizen Participation in Constitutional Reform	152	(5)
Notes	157	(1)
Suggested Readings	158	(1)
Review Exercises	158	(3)
Rights and Freedoms	161	(34)
Coming to Terms: What Do Rights and Freedoms Mean?	162	(3)
On the Origins and Meanings of Rights	165	(2)
Rights and Their Protection	167	(2)
The Pre-Charter Era: 1867--1981	169	(3)
Life in the Charter Era	172	(1)
Reasonable Limits and the Charter	173	(1)
The Notwithstanding Clause: Section 33	174	(2)
Applying the Charter	176	(12)
Has the Charter `Americanized' Canadian Politics?	188	(2)
Notes	190	(2)
Suggested Readings	192	(1)
Review Exercises	192	(3)
Federalism	195	(36)
What is Federalism?	195	(1)
The Origins, Maintenance, and Demise of Federal States	196	(3)
The Origins of Canadian Federalism	199	(3)
The Federal Division of Powers	202	(2)
The Courts and Federalism	204	(4)
Evolving Federalism	208	(12)
The Federal Spending Power, National Standards, and the Social Union	220	(7)
Notes	227	(1)
Suggested Readings	228	(1)
Review Exercises	229	(2)
The Machinery of Government	231	(48)
The Executive Branch	233	(17)
The Bureaucracy	250	(6)
The Legislature	256	(8)
The Democratic Deficit?	264	(2)
The Courts	266	(5)
Appendix: How a Law is Passed	271	(3)
Notes	274	(1)
Suggested Readings	275	(1)
Review Exercise	276	(3)
PART FOUR PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
Parties and Elections	279	(38)
Parties: Definitions and Functions	280	(2)
The Origins and Evolution of Canada's Party System	282	(9)
The 1993 and 1997 Elections: the End of Brokerage Politics?	291	(5)
The 2000 Election: Alliance Stalled?	296	(2)
The 2004 and 2006 Elections: A Divided Electorate	298	(1)
The Electoral System and Its Consequences	299	(3)
Voting Behaviour	302	(5)
Party Finances and Special Interests	307	(6)
Notes	313	(2)
Suggested Readings	315	(1)
Review Exercises	315	(2)
Interest Groups	317	(32)
Charting the Territory	317	(1)
The Bias of the Interest Group System	318	(2)
Analytical Perspectives on Interest Groups	320	(7)
The Ingredients of Interest Group Success	327	(7)
The Impact of Federalism on Interest Groups	334	(1)
Strategies for Influence	335	(8)
Notes	343	(3)
Suggested Readings	346	(1)
Review Exercises	347	(2)
The Media	349	(28)
`The Pictures in Our Heads'	350	(1)
What Do the Media Produce?	351	(4)
What Determines the Mass Media Product?	355	(14)
The Media and Democracy	369	(2)
Notes	371	(1)
Suggested Readings	372	(1)
Review Exercises	373	(4)
PART FIVE CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CANADIAN POLITICAL LIFE
Language Politics	377	(30)
The Demographics of Language Politics	377	(6)
The Trajectory of Nationalism	383	(3)
The Quiet Revolution and Its Legacy	386	(9)
A Distinct Society?	395	(5)
Appendix 1: Proposals for a Distinct Society Clause	400	(1)
Appendix 2: Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec	401	(1)
Notes	402	(2)
Suggested Readings	404	(1)
Review Exercises	405	(2)
Diversity and Politics	407	(40)
From Founding Nations to Multiculturalism: The Changing Ethnic Demography of Canada	407	(6)
Official Recognition and the Institutionalization of Diversity	413	(3)
Diversity and Political Representation	416	(1)
The Under-Representation of Women	417	(3)
Women in Politics	420	(12)
Organizing for Influence	432	(7)
Conclusion	439	(1)
Appendix 1: Selected Women's Organizations in Canada	440	(1)
Appendix 2: Dates in Women's Progress Towards Legal and Political Equality	440	(2)
Notes	442	(1)
Suggested Readings	443	(1)
Review Exercises	444	(3)
Aboriginal Politics	447	(28)
Native Demographics: Who and How Many?	447	(1)
The Language of Aboriginal Politics	448	(3)
Who Is an Indian?	451	(1)
The Reserve System	452	(1)
Assimilation, Integration, Self-Determination	453	(5)
Organizing for Political Influence	458	(1)
Sovereignty, Landownership, and Aboriginal Rights: The Battle in the Courts	459	(9)
The Institutionalization of Aboriginal Affairs	468	(1)
Second Thoughts or Citizens Plus?	469	(3)
Notes	472	(1)
Suggested Readings	473	(1)
Review Exercises	473	(2)
Canada in the World	475	(23)
The Meaning and Consequences of Globalization for Canada	476	(7)
Globalization and Canada--Us Relations	483	(6)
The Canadian Dilemma in Foreign Affairs	489	(5)
Conclusion	494	(2)
Notes	496	(1)
Suggested Readings	496	(1)
Review Exercises	497	(1)
Appendix A Constitution Act, 1867 (As Amended)	498	(37)
Appendix B Constitution Act, 1982	535	(12)
Glossary	547	(12)
Index	559