POL356Y1Y L0101

Canadian Political Parties

Themes

This course examines fundamental questions as to whether the national Canadian party system performs a democratic and representative function for Canadian politics, or whether it reinforces patterns of elitist politics. It also assesses the extent to which these Canadian political parties are internally democratic or elitist/autocratic. It explores these questions first by analyzing and evaluating competing liberal democratic and elite theories in relation to political parties (Part I); subsequently assessing the significance of different factors that have contributed to the emergence and evolution of the Canadian party system and individual political parties (Part II); examining the ideology, organizational structure and financing of the parties (Part III); analyzing the electoral campaign strategy and internal decision-making patterns of parties (Part IV); considering the distinctive histories and behavioural characteristics of both the major and minor federal parties (Part V); and assessing prospects for reform of the Canadian national party system (Part VI).

Texts

Hugh G. Thorburn and Alan Whitehorn, (eds.), Party Politics in Canada, 8th ed. (Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2001); Alain-G. Gagnon and A. Brian Tanguay (eds.), Canadian Parties in Transition, 3rd ed. (Peterborough: Broadview Press, 2007); William Cross, Political Parties (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2004).

Format and Requirements

One two-hour lecture/class discussion per week and 5-6 intermittent one-hour tutorials during the year. Course requirements include a 1 hour mid-term test in each term (10% per test), a 10 pages, double-spaced essay in each term (15% per essay) , a 2 hour end-of-term test each term (20% per test), and class and tutorial participation in both terms (10% total).

Prerequisites

POL214Y1 or POL214Y5 or POLB50Y3 or POL224Y1