POLI 2210

This course is an introduction to the social, economic, and participatory dynamics that drive Canadian politics. It covers political culture, regionalism, political economy, interest groups, social movements, and elections. Federalism is central to all these topics, as we study the role of Quebec nationalism in the federation's evolution, the relationship between the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and federalism, the place of emerging “orders of government” (including Aboriginal governments), and debates concerning the causes and consequences of centralization and decentralization in the Canadian federation.