Canadian political culture: integration and fragmentation

Date
1980
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Abstract
The literature on Canadian political culture is sparse and unsatisfactory. None of the work done in this field identifies the components of political culture and as a result, no one has examined the subject in a holistic manner. There are two distinct streams in the literature on Canadian political culture, the qualitative and the quantitative, and these have developed in parallel lines with no attempt to synthesize findings. Recent literature based on survey material reaches conclusions which are based on slim evidence. This thesis is an attempt to construct a model of political culture based on four components. These are values/attitudes, political institutions, myths/symbols and political socialization. These components encompass the entire realm of political culture, covering all the important elements isolated by scholars in this field. As Canada's political culture is said to be fragmented on provincial lines partly as a result of the federal system, it was felt that it should be measured against the political culture of another federal state. The United States was chosen as a model for it has a federal form of government as well as an integrated political culture. As a result of the investigation, it was found that Canada's political culture is fragmented in that the four components do not mesh. However, it was also found that there is little evidence of fragmentation along provincial lines. In other words, there is some evidence that Canada possess the rudiments of a nation political culture. There are some weak links, but nevertheless, there is a core of values and attitudes that is subscribed to from sea to sea.
Description
Bibliography: p. 121-126.
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Citation
Barrie, D. P. (1980). Canadian political culture: integration and fragmentation (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/22548
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