Parties, Elections, and the Future of Canadian Politics (Hardcover)

On 2 May 2011, Canadians watched as the Stephen Harper Conservatives
won their first majority government, ending a string of minority
governments. Jack Layton led the NDP to its best performance ever,
becoming the Official Opposition for the first time in the
party's history, and Michael Ignatieff and the federal Liberals
had their worst showing to date. Even to the casual observer, it was
clear that this election marked a major shift in Canadian politics. In
reality, the country's political landscape and national party
system had been changing for quite some time.

"Parties, Elections, and the Future of Canadian Politics"
provides the first comprehensive account of political change in Canada
over the past two decades, particularly during the 1993, 2004, and 2011
federal elections. Contributors explore the changing landscape from
both historical and contemporary perspectives and speculate on the
future of the national party system. They discuss how parties have
evolved in response to new challenges, how elections are fought on
different terms than those of the past, and how these developments and
challenges have changed the way voters view political parties and
elections. By doing so, they make a crucial contribution to our
understanding of Canadian politics in the wake of a one of the most
tumultuous periods in the country's history.Amanda Bittner is an associate professor in the
Department of Political Science at Memorial University.
Royce Koop is an assistant professor in the
Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba
Contributors: Blake Andrew, Kelly Blidook, Matthew
Byrne, R. Kenneth Carty, William Cross, Munro Eagles, Patrick Fournier,
Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Allison Harell, Harold Jansen, Richard
Johnston, L.A. (Lisa) Lambert, J. Scott Matthews, Anthony M. Sayers,
Stuart Soroka, Russell Alan Williams, Lisa Young.