Carleton University
Winter 2012
POLM 5905
Special Topics in Political Management
(Prime Ministerial Leadership in Canada)
Instructor
instructor: Prof. Stephen Azzi
phone:
613-520-2600, ext. 3115
e-mail:
stephen_azzi@carleton.ca
office:
room D692, Loeb Building
office hours: Wed., 1:00 to 2:00 P.M.,
or by appointment
Course Description
This course applies a political management perspective to the exercise of prime ministerial
power in Canada. Using several theories and case studies, it seeks to uncover which styles of
leadership are most successful in a variety of political contexts.
Main Questions
The course will consider which factors distinguish effective prime ministers from ineffective
ones. What sort of background, personal traits, and strategies lead to success? Are there timeless
requirements for leadership (such as talents that are important regardless of context)? To what
extent is leadership shaped by the broader context (the nature of the society, including the
political culture, and the specific problems that confront the leader), and to what extent can
leaders shape their context? How do leaders define the problems they face and how do they
determine their goals? What means do they use to achieve those goals? What are the results of
various styles of leadership? Do some forms of leadership result in long-lasting legacies, while
others yield only symbolic or short-term results?
Grades
Class Participation
Oral book review
Written book review
Essay
30%
10%
20%
40%
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Textbooks
Students should purchase the following book, which is not available in the bookstore:
Andrew Cohen, Lester B. Pearson (Toronto: Penguin, 2008, 2011), ISBN
9780143055976 (paperback), 9780670067381 (hardcover).
You may also wish to purchase the following volume, but please note that all of its contents are
available online, free of charge:
Ramsay Cook and Réal Bélanger, eds., Canada’s Prime Ministers, Macdonald to
Trudeau: Portraits from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography (Toronto:
University of Toronto Press, 2007), ISBN 9780802091741 (paperback),
9780802091734 (hardcover).
Schedule
(last revised 15 February 2012)
Classes are in the Tory Building, room 219, on Wednesdays from 2:35 to 5:25 p.m.
This schedule may change to accommodate guest speakers.
Date
4 January
11 January
18 January
25 January
Topic
Introduction to Course,
Instructor, and Classmates
Our Preconceptions of Prime
Ministerial Leadership
The Concept of Political
Time
Do Business Concepts of
Leadership Apply to
Politics?
Rating Canada’s Prime
Ministers: What Makes a
Great Prime Minister?
Readings
Course outline.
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents
Make: Leadership from John Adams to Bill
Clinton, 3-58 (on reserve).
Individually assigned readings (see below).
Norman Hillmer and Stephen Azzi, “Canada’s
Best Prime Ministers,” Maclean’s, 20 June
2011, 20-24
(http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/06/10/
canadas-best-prime-ministers/);
Stephen Azzi and Norman Hillmer, “Cautious
Transformation: The Paradox of Canadian
Prime Ministerial Leadership,” in Prime
Ministerial Leadership: Power, Party and
Performance in Westminster Systems (London:
Oxford University Press, forthcoming in 2012)
(to be distributed by e-mail and on WebCT).
POLM 5905, WINTER 2012
Date
1 February
8 February
15 February
Topic
Case Study 1: William Lyon
Mackenzie King
Guest Speaker: Professor
Norman Hillmer
Book Reviews:
(1) J.L. Granatstein,
Canada’s War: The
Politics of the
Mackenzie King
Government, 19391945.
(2) Allan Levine, William
Lyon Mackenzie King:
A Life Guided by the
Hand of Destiny,
reviewed by Krista
MacLeod
Case Study 2: Lester B.
Pearson
Guest Speaker: Professor
Andrew Cohen
Book Reviews:
(1) John English, The
Worldly Years: The
Life of Lester Pearson,
1949-1972, reviewed
by Sid Rashid.
(2) Peter C. Newman, The
Distemper of Our
Times, reviewed by
Reudon Eversley.
Case Study 3: John
Diefenbaker
Guest Speaker: Professor
Denis Smith
Book Reviews:
(1) Peter C. Newman,
Renegade in Power,
reviewed by Jackson
Ude.
(2) Denis Smith, Rogue
Tory: The Life and
Legend of John D.
Diefenbaker, reviewed
by Jonathan Juteau.
3
Readings
“(George) Norman Hillmer,” Canadian
Encyclopedia
(http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/
articles/norman-hillmer);
H. Blair Neatby, “William Lyon Mackenzie
King,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography
(http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01e.php?id_nbr=7996).
Andrew Cohen, Lester B. Pearson. (Please bring
the book with you to class and have it on the
table in front of you, in case we need to refer to
it.)
Denis Smith, “John George Diefenbaker,”
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
(http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01e.php?id_nbr=7990).
POLM 5905, WINTER 2012
Date
22 February
29 February
7 March
14 March
Topic
Winter Break – No Class
Case Study 4: Wilfrid
Laurier
Guest Speaker: Professor
Richard Clippingdale
Book Reviews:
(1) Richard Clippingdale,
Wilfrid Laurier: His
Life and World,
reviewed by
Mohammed Al Kaabi.
(2) Laurier Lapierre, Sir
Wilfrid Laurier and
the Romance of
Canada.
Case Study 5: Stephen
Harper
Guest Speaker: Dr. William
Stairs and Professor Paul
Wilson
Book Reviews:
(1) Lawrence Martin,
Harperland: The
Politics of Control,
reviewed by Chris
Waterston.
(2) Paul Wells, Right Side
Up, reviewed by Sean
O’Brady.
Case Study 6: John A.
Macdonald
Guest Speaker: Rt. Hon. Joe
Clark
Book Review:
(1) Richard Gwyn, Nation
Maker: Sir John A
Macdonald, His Life,
Our Times, reviewed
by Shauna Kadyschuk.
4
Readings
None.
Réal Bélanger, “Sir Wilfrid Laurier,” Dictionary
of Canadian Biography
(http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01e.php?id_nbr=7514).
To be announced.
J.K. Johnson and P.B. Waite, “Sir John Alexander
Macdonald,” Dictionary of Canadian
Biography (http://www.biographi.ca/009004119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=6248).
POLM 5905, WINTER 2012
Date
21 March
28 March
4 April
5
Topic
Case Study 7: Brian
Mulroney
Guest Speaker: Bill Fox
Book Review:
(1) Peter C. Newman, The
Secret Mulroney
Tapes: Unguarded
Confessions of a
Prime Minister,
reviewed by Ihor
Korbabicz.
Case Study 8: Jean Chrétien
Guest Speaker: Lawrence
Martin
Book Review:
(1) Lawrence Martin,
Iron Man: The Defiant
Reign of Jean
Chrétien, reviewed by
Jonathan Perron-Clow.
(2) Edward Greenspon
and Anthony WilsonSmith, Double Vision:
The Inside Story of the
Liberals in Power,
reviewed by Mozynah
Nofal.
Case Study 9: Pierre Trudeau
Guest Speaker: Hon. JeanJacques Blais
Book Reviews:
(1) John English, Just
Watch Me: The Life of
Pierre Trudeau, 19682000.
(2) Richard Gwyn, The
Northern Magus.
Readings
The relevant chapter in Michael Bliss, Right
Honourable Men: The Descent of Canadian
Politics from Macdonald to Chrétien. (on
reserve)
The relevant chapter in Michael Bliss, Right
Honourable Men: The Descent of Canadian
Politics from Macdonald to Chrétien. (on
reserve)
John English, “Pierre Elliott Trudeau,” Dictionary
of Canadian Biography,”
(http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01e.php?id_nbr=8418).
Class Participation
The participation grade is based on the frequency and quality of your contribution. The more
substantive your comments, the higher your participation grade will be. Your participation
should foster an open and cooperative group environment, while showing that you have read and
reflected upon the required readings. You should try to refer explicitly to the readings during the
course of the discussion.
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When we have a guest speaker, you will be expected to engage the speaker during the discussion
period. Solicit his/her views on key issues, ask for clarification if you did not understand part of
the presentation, politely challenge any interpretations with which you disagree.
Book Reviews
Each student will review one book from the course schedule. No two students may review the
same book. I will ask you to express your preferred books by e-mail.
You will submit a written review at least two weeks before the class in question and should be
prepared to present your oral summary at least two weeks early, on the off chance that the
schedule changes to accommodate a guest speaker. The presentation should be approximately ten
minutes in length. The written review should be 750 to 1250 words.
Both the oral and written review should not summarize the book, but should explain what light
the book sheds on the main questions we are examining in the course.
Essay
Each student will write one essay of 3000 to 5000 words in length. The paper will examine one
prime minister’s approach to leadership. If you wish, you may narrow the topic to one prime
minister’s leadership on a particular issue or during a particular crisis. Some examples include:
 Laurier and the naval bill
 Laurier and reciprocity
 Borden and conscription
 King and conscription
 Diefenbaker and nuclear weapons
 Pearson and social policy
 Pearson and Quebec
 Pearson and the flag
 Trudeau and the October Crisis
 Trudeau and the patriation of the constitution
 Mulroney and the constitution
 Chrétien and Canadian-American relations after 9/11
When writing your essay, consider the issues outlined above under “Main Questions.”
You would be wise to start your research early. Demand for books is always high and you may
find that a book you need has been checked out of the library. I encourage you to send me a
bibliography by e-mail in the first few weeks of the course, so I can point out any important
sources that you are missing.
The essay is due by 4:00 p.m. on the last day of classes, 4 April. If I am not in my office, please
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slide the essay under my door and send me an e-mail telling me that you have submitted it.
The essay will be marked according to the following criteria:
 Research – The paper should be based on substantial research. It should use a variety of
sources, particularly the most recent scholarly work. The essay should show that you
have a solid grasp of the literature. Adequate evidence should be presented throughout to
support the argument.
 Presentation – The essay should be well organized and should have a logical paragraph
structure. It must be clearly and concisely written, and free of spelling and grammatical
errors. It should follow the guidelines in this course outline.
 Analysis and Argument – From the outset, the paper must have a clear argument
supported by evidence, and should not consist merely of narrative. The paper should
show good judgement, strong analytical skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the
subject.
Guidelines for Written Work
When preparing your work, please follow these guidelines:
 All work should be submitted in hardcopy.
 The style and formatting of your work should be designed to assist the reader, not express
your individuality. Essays and book reviews should be clearly written and should have a
logical flow.
 All work should be submitted in hardcopy, not electronic form.
 The text should be in an easy-to-read, serif font. (Studies show that Times New Roman,
Bell Gothic, and Sabon are among the easiest fonts to read.) Do not use Arial or any other
sans-serif font.
 You should spell words according to the most common form in Canadian usage. Note the
endings of the following words: colour, centre, harmonize, defence. It will help if you
change the language in Microsoft Word to “English (Canada).”
 Follow George Orwell’s six rules for effective writing:
i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to
seeing in print.
ii. Never us a long word where a short one will do.
iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of
an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
 Consistently follow one of the common styles for references and bibliography: MLA,
APA, or Chicago.
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Academic Accommodations
For Students with Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this
course must register with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) for a formal evaluation of
disability-related needs. Documented disabilities include physical, mental, and learning disabilities, mental
disorders, hearing or vision disabilities, epilepsy, drug and alcohol dependencies, environmental sensitivities, as well
as other conditions. Registered PMC students are required to contact the PMC, 613-520-6608, early each term to
ensure that your Instructor receives your Letter of Accommodation no later than two weeks before the first
assignment is due or the first in-class test/midterm requiring accommodations.
For Religious Observance: Students requesting accommodation for religious observances should apply in writing to
their instructor for alternate dates and/or means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests should be made
during the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist, but no
later than two weeks before the compulsory academic event. Accommodation is to be worked out directly and on an
individual basis between the student and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will make accommodations in a way
that avoids academic disadvantage to the student. Instructors and students may contact an Equity Services Advisor
for assistance (www.carleton.ca/equity).
For Pregnancy: Pregnant students requiring academic accommodations are encouraged to contact an Equity Advisor
in Equity Services to complete a letter of accommodation. Then, make an appointment to discuss your needs with
the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is anticipated the accommodation will
be required.
Plagiarism
The Graduate Calendar states that plagiarism has occurred when a student either: (a) directly copies another's work
without acknowledgment; or (b) closely paraphrases the equivalent of a short paragraph or more without
acknowledgment; or (c) borrows, without acknowledgment, any ideas in a clear and recognizable form in such a
way as to present them as the student's own thought, where such ideas, if they were the student's own would
contribute to the merit of his or her own work. Instructors who suspect plagiarism are required to submit the paper
and supporting documentation to the chair or director who will refer the case to the Dean. It is not permitted to hand
in the same assignment to two or more courses.
At the discretion of the instructor, students may be required to pass a brief oral examination on research papers and
essays.