Fall/Winter Timetable

POL2103H1S L0101

Undergraduate Course Code: POL491H1S L0101

Topics in Canadian Politics II

Federalism and Diversity in Canada and Beyond

Themes

The course treats Canada as a key case within the comparative study of federations. The particular focus is on the management of diversity and conflict, analyzing the socio-demographic and institutional aspects of Canada through the lens of applicable federal theory and policy. The goal is to understand Canada through this lens, but also to reflect back on the broader theory and policy discussed.

The course is divided into two sections. The first introduces core elements of comparative federal studies, linking this to the different ways we can understand Canada and the general theory and policy related to the use of federation to manage diversity and conflict. The second section turns to investigate key elements of managing diversity via federation in Canada, and elsewhere, such as: how power is distributed in a federation; the role of the courts in managing conflict; and, how minority groups are represented in federal institutions

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

Seminar-style course, key requirements include: participation, presentation and a research project (proposal and essay).

Preparation

POL 103Y or POL 214Y or POL 224Y and one other POL course in Canadian politics