POLI 3546.2
Political Parties and Democratic Change
Saint Mary’s University
Time: Tues. 4 - 6:30 pm
Class Location: Sobey 159
Professor: Dr. Alexandra Dobrowolsky
Email: adobrowolsky@smu.ca
Office Phone: (902) 420-5895
Office Hours: Tues. 11:30 – 2:30pm;
Wed.1 - 4pm
* or by appointment
Office location: MN 405
Calendar Description: 3 credit hours. The historical evolution, as well as the contemporary promises and pitfalls of
political parties are compared. The party ideal is appraised in relation to changing political and representational
realities. Given growing public dissatisfaction with political parties as democratic vehicles, representational and
democratic alternatives are examined.
Prerequisite: 4 credit hours in POLI and 3 credit hours in ECON, HIST, PHIL, POLI or SOCI.
Course Description / Objectives:
In recent decades, perhaps one of the most troubling developments for electoral politics has been the
public’s increasing disenchantment with the political party as a representational form, and with
elections as democratic vehicles. Indeed, some groups, such as youth, have appeared especially
disengaged when it comes to partisan politics and voting. While voter turnout, in general, and in relation
to youth and First Nations, improved in Canada’s 2015 general election, significant democratic
challenges remain. This course critically examines various theories and practices, past and present,
around political parties and elections. By analysing parties on several bases—theoretically, historically
and comparatively-- continuities and changes that help to explain this current democratic malaise and
what can be done about it are identified and evaluated. The first aim of this course, then, is to develop a
more in-depth, informed, understanding of political parties, elections, and their contemporary
challenges. In the process of acquiring this broader and deeper knowledge of the promises and pitfalls
of partisan politics, the second course objective is to consider constructive solutions to current
representational and democratic shortfalls in, and beyond, political parties and elections.
Course Texts:
1) Amanda Bittner & Royce Koop eds., Parties, Elections and the Future of Canadian
Politics (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2013).
2) Alex Marland & Thierry Giasson eds., Canadian Election Analysis: Communication,
Strategy and Democracy (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2015) access on line at:
http://www.ubcpress.ca/CanadianElectionAnalysis2015/
3) Course Kit= readings from course pack indicated with {K}
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FORMAT AND EVALUATION
Class Presentation
Class Participation {=participation/attendance 10%; weekly log check 5%}
Test: Feb. 23
Journal / Reading Logs {2 instalments: Feb. 9 & Mar. 29= 15% for each set}
Essay Outline/ Annotated Bibliography {2-3 pages due: Mar.8}
Research Essay {12 pages; due Apr. 5}
15%
15%
15%
30%
10%
15%
NOTE: All (written and oral) assignments must be completed to pass this course.There will be
NO extensions in this course. Only in the case of illness (upon verification of a doctor’s note), will
exceptions be made.
**Students with disabilities: please meet with the professor at the start of the term to discuss
alternative accommodations / arrangements, if necessary.
Class Participation:
Students are required to attend all scheduled classes and to participate
extensively in class discussions (10%). Since this course contains a significant participation component,
it is important that you read the required readings and write up your journal entries/reading logs before
the appropriate class; then, bring your journals/logs to class (your weekly journal drafts will be checked
each week for 5%), and be prepared to discuss the readings in detail, at length.
Presentation: One formal class presentation (15%) is required in this course. This will entail preparing
an engaging presentation and facilitating class discussion. Depending on class size, but most likely
working in pairs, you will choose an innovative presentation style that imparts information and
stimulates a structured class discussion/learning experience. If you require special equipment, please
inform the professor one week in advance.
Journal / Reading Logs: The journal or reading log is a way for students to record their thoughts and
responses to the course materials (2 x 15%). Most importantly, students develop and build on their
analyses with their entries. Thus, the purpose of this exercise is not only to ensure that students are
reading and following the required materials (in lieu of a final examination), but also to provide an
opportunity for students to hone their critical commentaries through the course of the term. The
journals will be reviewed weekly, and marked on two occasions: after the first month of term; and at the
end of the course.
Essay Outline/ Annotated Bibliography and Research Essay: You are required to hand in a 2-3 page
essay outline as well as an annotated bibliography (worth 10%) a few weeks before your research essay
is due. You will be encouraged to formulate an essay question of your own. Your 12 page essay (worth
15%) must reflect more than a general understanding of the topic chosen. It should also contain an
assessment. In other words, this assignment requires that you pursue an argument, and develop an
informed analysis. Moreover, this is a research essay. Your paper must be properly referenced or it will
not be graded. APS style is the preferred style of referencing.
Plagiarism: constitutes a serious academic offence. Taking someone else’s work or quoting another person’s research/writing
without reference; taking unattributed materials from the internet; submitting the same piece of work for credit in more than
one course, are all examples of academic fraud (see the Academic Calendar 2015 - 2016 re: “Academic Integrity and Student
Responsibility.” Students found committing these or other academic offences will receive a grade of zero for the work(s) in
question, will be reported, and will likely fail the course.
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Schedule, Topics & Readings
I)
Jan. 12: Welcome Back: introductions; course overview; buy textbooks & course kit
II)
Jan. 19: Political Parties & Elections: Historical Ideals & Contemporary Realities
REQUIRED:
*Amanda Bittner & Royce Koop, “Introduction: Change and Continuity in Canadian Parties and
Elections,” Chapter 1 in Bittner & Koop
*Grant Amyot, Chapter 22“The Waning of Political Parties,” in Alain G. Gagnon and A. Brian
Tanguay eds. Canadian Parties in Transition {K}
*Section 1, “Election 2015,” in Marland & Giasson pp. 1-9
*Allison Harell & Tania Gosselin, “The Youth Vote in the 2015 Election,” in Marland & Giasson
pp.118-119.
Recommended: Paul Howe, Citizens Adrift: The Democratic Disengagement of Young Canadians, Chapter 1 , “Democratic Participation in
Canada”, Chapter 2, “The Wellspring of Disengagement” & Chapter 3, “The Evolution of Political Attentiveness: A Six-Country Comparison”;
Lawrence Ezrow and Georgious Xezonakis. “Citizen Satisfaction with Democracy and Parties’ Political Offerings” Comparative Political Studies
44:9 (2011) 1152-1178; Lawrence Leduc & Jon H. Pammett, Chapter 12 “Voter Turnout” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election.
III)
Jan.26: Historical Roots and Party Evolution, Continuity and Change
REQUIRED:
*Gordon T. Stewart, Chapter 1 “The Beginning of Politics in Canada” in Alain G. Gagnon & A.
Brian Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition {K}
*Steve Patten, Chapter 3 “The Evolution of the Canadian Party System” in Alain G. Gagnon & A.
Brian Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition {K}
*R. Kenneth Carty, “An Unnatural Party,” in R. Kenneth Carty, Big Tent Politics: The Liberal
Party’s Long Mastery of Canada’s Public Life, Chapter 1 {K}
*Richard Johnston, “The 2015 Election and the Canadian Party System,” in Marland & Giasson,
pp. 22-23.
Recommended: *Royce Koop & Amanda Bittner, “Parties and Elections after 2011: The Fifth Canadian Party System” Chapter 14 in Bittner &
Koop; Heather MacIvor, “Introduction” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election {K}; John Courtney, “Forty and Counting” in Heather MacIvor ed.,
Election; Gidengil et al., “Chapter 11: The Shifting Contours of Canadian Elections” in Dominance and Decline: Making Sense of Recent Canadian
Elections; Brad Walchuk, “A Whole New Ballgame: The Rise of Canada’s Fifth Party System,” American Review of Canadian Studies 42:3 (2012).
REMINDERS:
**First Presentations begin Feb. 2nd
**Hand in first set of Journals Feb. 9, & include Feb. 9th readings!
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IV)
Feb.2: Brokerage versus Ideology Reviewed and Re-evaluated
REQUIRED
*Janine Brodie & Jane Jenson, Chapter 2 “Piercing the Smokescreen: Stability & Change in
Brokerage Politics” in Gagnon & Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition {K}
*R. Kenneth Carty, “Has Brokerage Politics Ended?” Chapter 1 in Bittner & Koop
*Munroe Eagles, “Constituency and Personal Determinants of MPs’ Positions on Social
Conservative Issues in the 37th and 38th Canadian Parliaments” Chapter 4 in Bittner & Koop
*Shannon Sampert, “The ‘New Normal’ of Mediatization and Narrowcasting” in Marland &
Giasson, pp. 70-71.
Recommended: Steven B. Wolinetz, Chapter 8 “Cycles and Brokerage: Canadian Parties as Mobilizers of Interest” in Alain G. Gagnon and A.
Brian Tanguay eds. Canadian Parties in Transition; R. Kenneth Carty, “A Different kind of Party” in Big Tent Politics: The Liberal Party’s Long
Mastery of Canada’s Public Life, Chapter 4.
**FEB. 2nd Presentation 1: Is Brokerage Passé?
V) Feb.9: Governing Parties: Past, Present Future
REQUIRED:
*Reginald Whitaker, “Party & State in the Liberal Era” in Dan Azoulay ed., Canadian Political
Parties: Historical Readings {K}
*R. Kenneth Carty, “The Natural Governing Party,” in R. Kenneth Carty, Big Tent Politics: The
Liberal Party’s Mastery of Canada’s Public Life, Chapter 2 {K}
Party’s Long Mastery of Canada’s Public Life {K}
*Alex Marland and Tom Flanagan, “Brand New Party: Political Branding and the Conservative
Party of Canada.” Canadian Journal of Political Science 46:4 (2013); 951-972 {K}
*Tom Flanagan, “The Conservative Campaign” & Brooke Jeffrey, “The Liberals’ Campaign” in
Marland & Giasson, pp. 26-77 & 30-31.
Recommended: Gidengil et al, “Chapter 4: Party Loyalties” in Dominance and Decline: Making Sense of Canadian Elections. R. Kenneth Carty,
“Four Eras, Four Liberal Parties” in Big Tent Politics: The Liberal Party’s Long Mastery of Canada’s Public Life, Chapter 3.
**FEB. 9th Presentation 2: Is this the End of Harperland?
READING WEEK / STUDY BREAK FEB. 15 -19
REMINDERS:
**Test: Feb.23
** Essay Outlines due in class on March 8!
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****Feb. 23 TEST
VI)
Mar. 1: Moving Beyond the Political Centre?
REQUIRED
*Éric Bélanger, Chapter 4 “Third Party Success in Canada,” in Alain G. Gagnon & A. Brian
Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition {K}
*Lynda Erickson and David Laycock, “Party History and Electoral Fortunes,” & “Building for a
Breakthrough: The Layton Years, 2003-11,” in David Laycock & Linda Erickson eds., Reviving
Social Democracy: The Near Death and Surprising Rise of the NDP, Chapters 1 &2 {K}
*David McGrane, “The NDP’s ‘Government in Waiting’ Strategy,”; Eric Montigny & Francois
Gélineau “Le NPD au Québec: doublé sur la gauche,”; and Nelson Wiseman “Regional
Sensibilities and Regional Voting,” in Marland & Giasson, pp. 32-23 & 100-101 & 98-99.
Recommended: James Bickerton, Chapter 19 “Between Integration and Fragmentation: Political Parties and the Representation of Regions” in
Alain G. Gagnon & A. Brian Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition; Elisabeth Gidengil et al, “Chapter 10: Electoral Dynamics in Quebec” in
Dominance & Decline: Making Sense of Recent Canadian Elections ; Ailsa Henderson, Chapter 15 “Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: Political
Cultures and Regions” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election; David Laycock & Linda Erickson eds., Reviving Social Democracy: The Near Death and
Surprising Rise of the NDP, Alan Whitehorn, Chapter 6 “Social Democracy and the New Democratic Party” in Alain G. Gagnon & A. Brian
Tanguay eds., Canadian Parties in Transition.
**MAR.1st Presentation 3: What’s Left of the Left?
VII) Mar.8: The Economy & Environment: Either or, or Both and?
REQUIRED:
*Gidengil et al, “Chapter 5: Does the Economy Matter?” in Dominance & Decline: Making Sense
of Recent Canadian Elections {K}
*Gidengil et al, “Chapter 9: The Greens and the Perils of Being a ‘Single Issue’ Party” in
Dominance & Decline: Making Sense of Recent Canadian Elections {K}
*Harold J. Jansen and L.A (Lisa) Lambert, “Too Little, Too Soon: State Funding and Electoral
District Associations in the Green Party of Canada,” Chapter 10 in Bittner & Koop,
*Susan Harada, “Greens by the Numbers,” in Marland & Giasson, pp.28-29.
Recommended: Gidengil et al, “Chapter 3: Values and Beliefs” in Gidengil Dominance & Decline: Making Sense of Recent Canadian Elections; Per
Gahrton, Green Parties Green Future: From Local Groups to the International Stage (2015).
**MAR. 8th Presentation 4: Should the Economy be the Uppermost Concern of Political
Parties?
Hand in Essay Outline Mar. 8
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VIII) Mar. 15: Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality
REQUIRED:
*Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, “Women Voters Candidates and Legislators: A Gender Perspective
on Recent Party and Electoral Politics” Chapter 6 in Bittner & Koop
*Allison Harell, “Revisiting the “Ethnic” Vote: Liberal Allegiance and Vote Choice among
Racialized Minorities” Chapter 7 in Bittner & Koop
*William Cross & Lisa Young, “Candidate Recruitment in Canada: The Role of Political Parties”
Chapter 2 in Bittner & Koop
*Melanee Thomas, “Gender and Election 2014: Continuity with No Real Change”; Erin Tolley
“Visible Minority and Indigenous Members of Parliament”; Pamela Palmater, “All About Strong
Alliances: First Nations Engagement in the Federal Election,”; Joanna Everitt “LGBT Activism in
the 2015 Election” in Marland & Giasson, pp. 46-47; 50-51; 60-61; & 48-49.
Recommended: Steve Patten, Chapter 7 “Democracy and the Candidate Selection Process in Canadian Elections” In Heather MacIvor ed.,
Election. Linda Trimble & Manon Tremblay, Women & Electoral Politics in Canada; Linda Trimble & Jane Arscott, Still Counting Women in Politics
Across Canada; Lisa Young, Feminists in Party Politics; Mario Levesque, “Missing in Action Disability Policy and Persons with Disabilities” & Sean
Fleming, “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Salience of International Issues” in Marland & Giasson, pp. 88-89 & 90-91,
**MAR 15th: Presentation 5: Do social movements have more democratic promise than
political parties?
IX) Mar 22: Public Perceptions and Party Portrayals
REQUIRED:
*Amanda Bittner, “Coping with Political Flux: The Impact of Information on Voters’ Perceptions
of the Political Landscape, 1988-2011” Chapter 13 in Bittner & Koop.
*Blake Andrew, Patrick Fournier & Stuart Soroka, “The Canadian Party System: Trends in
Election Campaign Reporting, 1980-2008” Chapter 8 in Bittner & Koop.
*Tamara A. Small, “Still Waiting for an Internet Prime Minister: Online Campaigning by
Canadian Political parties,” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election {K}
*Patricia Cormack and Mireille Lalancette, “Trudeau as Celebrity Politician: Winning by More
than a Hair,” & Yannick Dufresne & Clifton van der Linden, “Digital Technology and Civic
Engagement: The Case of Vote Compass,” in Marland & Giasson, pp. 84-85; 114-115.
Recommended: Tamara A. Small, Chapter 9 “Still Waiting for an Internet Prime Minister: Online Campaigning by Canadian Political Parties” in
Heather MacIvor ed., Election; André Turcotte, Chapter 10 “Polling as Modern Alchemy: Measuring Public Opinion in Canadian Elections” in
Heather MacIvor ed., Election. Section 4: The Media and Political Communication, in Marland & Giasson, pp.64-85 & Section 7 Public Opinion
Polls and Voter Behaviour, in Marland and Giasson, pp. 106-119.
*MAR. 22nd: *Presentation 6: Is Justin Trudeau the First “Internet PM”? What are the
Democratic Consequences of Digital Campaigning?
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REMINDERS:
Journals due on March 29, include readings for March 29th
Essays due on April 5
X) Mar 29: Elections: Electoral Maps, Systems & Laws
*Russell Alan Williams, “Parties, Politics, and Redistribution” Chapter 9 in Bittner & Koop
*Dennis Pilon, “Understanding Electoral Systems” Chapter 3 in Heather MacIvor ed., Election
{K}
*Lisa Young and Harold J. Jansen, “Reforming Party and Election Finance in Canada” in Lisa
Young and Harold J. Jansen eds., Money, Politics and Democracy: Canada’s Finance Reforms {K}
Recommended: Heather MacIvor, Chapter 4 “Canada’s Election Law: Less Than Meets the Eye” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election and Michael
Pal and Sujit Choudry, Chapter 5 “Constituency Boundaries in Canada” in Heather MacIvor ed., Election
XI) Apr. 5 Last class: Wrap Up & Hand in Essays
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