NOTE: PowerPoint presentations and files will be made available (except
in exceptional circumstances) the day before the lecture. Lectures
will not be available in advance of this.
The introduction offers a brief overview of the Canadian political system.
Dyck, Chpt. 16: The Canadian Constitution and Constitutional Change, Chpt.17: The Provinces and the Federal System.
These four lectures outline two of the three main institutional pillars of the Canadian system as established in the Canadian Constitution -- federalism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The lectures on federalism outline the reasons why federalism was adopted in Canada, the expectations of its framers for its future development, and the actual pattern of development that did emerge.
Sept. 25: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Dyck, Chpt.18: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
These lectures ouline the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada arguing that the Charter, on close inspection, reveals a very interesting picture of the model of Canada envisioned by its framers. The lectures will also consider how the Charter could be expected to contribute to shaping the Canadian political environment.
This lecture outlines some ways in which to think about political culture
and to conceptualize the ideological spectrum.
Oct.2: Canadian Political Culture -- What Explains It?
This lecture outlines some major arguments regarding what Canadian political culture is exactly and examines a number of explanations referring to various forces that have shaped its development including the fragment thesis, formative events, and political economy.
This lecture examines the impact of the media on the broader political culture in Canada. The lecture examines the question of whether the media plays a central role in shaping political culture or, on the contrary, the media simply reflects political culture.
This lecture considers the pattern of increasing economic and cultural integration and examines arguments that such integfation is fostering convergence in the patterns of political competition and conflict in the two countries.
Oct.11 Introduction to First Nations' Issues
Video Presentation: Power: One River, Two Nations
Dyck, Chpt.4: Canada's Aboriginal Peoples and Supplemental Readings
Package
Oct.23: Citizen's Plus
Guest Speaker: Prof. Alan Cairns, author of Citizen's Plus: Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian State.
*There are no PowerPoint presentations associated with these two classes.
These lectures examine both Atlantic Canadian and western Canadian alienation and considers whether this cleavage is primarily political or economic.
Nov.8: Multiculturalism in Canada
Guest Speaker: Prof. John McGarry
Dyck, Chpt.6: Other Ethnic Groups and Multiculturalism
This lecture examines the increasing social pluralization of Canada
and the growing politicitization of ethnicity.
These lectures outline the history of French-English relations in Canada focusing on the role of Quebec in Canadian Confederation. The lecture argues that many of the fears prompting Quebec to demand greater ability to protect their language and culture are the same fears that lead many English Canadians to oppose granting Quebec this ability.
This lecture considers the impacts of gender politics in Canada.
Dyck, Chpt.8: Class Cleavages
This lecture examines why class politics are not more salient in Canadian politics while examining how some issues which are not generally interpreted as class issues may have a strong basis in class.
Nov.29: Class Politics (Cont'd)