Focusing on the traditional state-centred arenas of group and social movement influence such as Parliament, elections, the bureaucracy and the courts, this book argues that the terrain of group politics in Canada has been restructured by the transition from the Keynesian welfare state era to the era of neoliberal globalization. It surveys the main approaches to the study of collective action in the Canadian context, including theories such as pluralism, neo-Marxism, historical institutionalism, and rational choice theory. The core of the analysis draws on political economy and historical institutionalism to explore the ways in which Canadian political institutions are in the midst of a fundamental transformation brought on by the shift to neoliberalism. Miriam Smith argues that political-institutional changes in federalism and intergovernmental relations, the role of the courts in the wake of the Charter, the decline of the legislature, the concentration of power at the centre, the relative displacement of the public service, the regionalization of the brokerage party system, and the rise of professional lobbyists have altered the scope for group politics in Canada. The restructuring of Canadian politics has gone beyond the level of policy change, reshaping the central institutions of the state. The core political institutions of the Canadian state are in the midst of their own restructuring process, one that will make a less democratic Canada.

Comments:

"This book assuredly fills a long-standing gap in Canadian political science. Finally bridging the analysis of interest groups and social movements, its significant empirical as well as theoretical contributions will make it a standard reference for years to come. A must read for any serious Canadianist." - Jane Jenson, Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance, Universite de Montreal

"In this important book Miriam Smith makes a compelling case that Canada's growing democratic deficit can be traced to the impact of neoliberal globalization. Through restructuring Canada's political institutions and privileging a discourse of individualism and commercialism, neoliberalism has diminished the voice of popular sector groups and movements while creating new opportunities for business elites to determine political outcomes." - Stephen McBride, Simon Fraser University 

Special Combined Price: A Civil Society? Collective Actors in Canadian Political Life may be ordered together with Group Politics and Social Movements in Canada at a special discounted price. In order to secure the package price, the following ISBN must be used when ordering: 978-1-55402-779-8.

Miriam Smith is Professor in the Department of Political Studies at Trent University. Her areas of interest are Canadian and comparative politics, in particular, political economy, social movements, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movements in Canada. She is the author of Lesbian and Gay Rights in Canada: Social Movements and Equality-Seeking, 1971-1995 (University of Toronto Press, 1999) and co-editor, with François Rocher, of New Trends in Canadian Federalism (Broadview Press, 2nd ed. 2003).

Table of Contents: [Back to Top]

Acknowledgements

1. Neoliberalism and Group Politics
2. Understanding Group and Movement Politics
3. Historical Trajectories of Influence in Canadian Politics
4. Arenas of Influence: Parliament, Parties, and Elections
5. Arenas of Influence: Bureaucracy and Policy Communities
6. Arenas of Influence: Courts
7. Conclusions

References

Index

Reviews

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