Canadian Political Primer

As we enter the final month of the 43rd Canadian federal election campaign, we have compiled a Canadian political science reading list. Whether exploring how Canadian government functions, providing historical context, or dissecting specific policy issues, each of the titles offer a unique perspective on Canada’s current democratic system.

Democracy in Canada
The Disintegration of Our Institutions

By Donald J. Savoie

A masterwork analysis, Democracy in Canada investigates the forces shaping the workings of Canadian federalism and the country’s national political and bureaucratic institutions.

“Nobody else but Savoie could have written such an exhaustive and authoritative critique of Canada’s institutions – the culmination of all his other work.” The National Post

Indigenous Nationals, Canadian Citizens
From First Contact to Canada 150 and Beyond

By Thomas J. Courchene

“In a masterful work on one of the most important themes of our country’s public policy history, Courchene lays out the historical, legal, and socio-economic context for Indigenous policy formation in Canada and, drawing on this background, makes a proposal (the Commonwealth of Sovereign Indigenous Nations) to catalyze debate. Courchene’s fresh policy prescription works to reconcile two competing goals: recognizing Indigenous rights and promoting Canadian economic and resource development, while creating a compelling case for significant change.” Donner Prize Jury

Unveiling the Nation
The Politics of Secularism in France and Quebec

By Emily Laxer

At a moment of heightened debate in the global politics of religious diversity, Laxer’s Unveiling the Nation sheds critical light on the way party politics and its related instabilities shape the secular boundaries of nationhood in diverse societies.

“Introducing novel interpretations and ideas, Unveiling the Nation is an accurate and well-researched account of the debates on the status of religion in the public sphere in both France and Quebec.” Denise Helly, Institut national de recherche scientifique

Change and Continuity
Canadian Political Economy in the New Millennium

Edited by Mark P. Thomas, Leah F. Vosko, Carlo Fanelli, and Olena Lyubchenko

The latest in a series of related volumes on Canadian political economy, Change and Continuity explores the past, present, and potential futures of the discipline in a global context, offering insight into some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Ladies, Upstairs!
My Life in Politics and After

By Monique Bégin

The voice of a woman in a male world, a francophone among anglophones, and a skeptical politician, Ladies, Upstairs! provides a fascinating account of one of Canada’s most impressive federal ministers and her discoveries through the decades.

“The book shines when Bégin shifts to an analysis of how women had to navigate politics and academia in an era where there were few female role models to follow. Her comments on academia and the role of these commissions are important contributions to understanding the continued barriers faced by women worldwide.” Quill & Quire

At the Centre of Government
The Prime Minister and the Limits on Political Power

By Ian R. Brodie

Drawing on a vast body of work on governance and the role of the executive branch of government, At the Centre of Government is a fact-based primer on the workings of Canadian government and sobering second thoughts about many proposals for reform.

“Using valuable personal experience as a touchstone, Ian Brodie’s At the Centre of Government inspires readers to think more deeply and clearly about democracy and its relationship to liberalism, constitutionalism, and good public policy.” Thomas Bateman, St. Thomas University

Protecting Multiculturalism
Muslims, Security, and Integration in Canada

By John S. McCoy

An open-minded and substantive reflection on the day-to-day realities for Muslim communities, Protecting Multiculturalism seeks a way forward for the Canadian multicultural experiment – a future that is marked by dignity and diversity in an increasingly fraught era.

100 Questions about Women and Politics

By Manon Tremblay, translated by Käthe Roth

A timely book on the unfinished work of representative democracy, 100 Questions about Women and Politics takes a comprehensive yet concise approach to demystifying the major issues dominating the study of gender and government.

“An accessible work that responds to the major questions that have dominated the study of gender and politics, primarily in the realm of elections and representative institutions.” Allison Harell, Université du Québec à Montréal

On the House
An Inside Look at the House of Commons

By Rob Walsh, foreword by Peter Milliken

Drawing on his years of service to five majority and three minority parliaments, Rob Walsh shares first-hand insights into the inner workings of the House, beyond the political personalities that dominate its proceedings.

“A fascinating discussion with insights that only someone well-immersed in the operations of the House of Commons can truly provide.” Janet Hiebert, Queen’s University

Canada and the Ethics of Constitutionalism
Identity, Destiny, and Constitutional Faith

By Samuel V. LaSelva

Through a careful consideration of how Canadian constitutional pluralism with its focus on the rights of others differs from American and British ideas, Canada and the Ethics of Constitutionalism provides engaging answers to contested questions about how Canada was founded and what it has become.

“LaSelva demonstrates that Canada has charted its own constitutional course, based on a distinctiveness that differentiates it from the US and the UK. Highly recommended.” Choice

Why Dissent Matters
Because Some People See Things the Rest of Us Miss

By William Kaplan

Our problems are not going away. There will always be abuses of power to confront, wrongs to right, and new opportunities for dissenting voices to say, “Stop, listen to me.” Why Dissent Matters may well lead to a different and more just future.

“Applying a historical analysis to various kinds of dissent through the past century Kaplan illustrates the validity of protest as a means of social change.” Quill & Quire

Should We Change How We Vote?
Evaluating Canada’s Electoral System

Edited by Andrew Potter, Daniel Weinstock, and Peter Loewen
Published for the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada

An essential guide to the crucial and ongoing debate about the country’s future, Should We Change How We Vote? asks if there are alternative reforms that would be easier to implement than a complete overhaul of the electoral system.

“[Should We Change How We Vote?] should be read in preparation for future battles.” Literary Review of Canada

What Is Government Good At?
A Canadian Answer

By Donald J. Savoie

With wide implications for representative democracy, What Is Government Good At? is a persuasive analysis of an approach to government that has opened the door to those with the resources to influence policy and decision-making while leaving average citizens on the outside looking in.

“Donald J. Savoie’s book is one that Canadians, both inside and outside of government, should read with a sense of urgency.” Donner Prize Jury

Reflecting on Our Past and Embracing Our Future
A Senate Initiative for Canada

Edited by Serge Joyal and Judith G. Seidman
Published for the Senate of Canada

Correcting misconceptions about the contemporary role of the Senate, and providing a counterargument for radical Senate reform, Reflecting on Our Past and Embracing Our Future offers rich perspectives and fascinating insights about Canada’s likely development in the coming years.