POLS 1400 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Canada Elections Act, Majority Rule, Collectivism
30 Nov 2016
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CHAPTER 11: THE CANADIAN POLITICAL CULTURE
Political Culture: The sum total of the politically relevant values, beliefs, attitudes, identities, and
orientations in a society
- Political Culture determines what is normal and acceptable and what is not, and consists of the
dominant values and expectations in the political system. These values and expectations lead to the
kinds of political decisions and behavior that the various elites in society have deemed to be
legitimate.
- Two methods of identifying political culture;
1. Survey individual Canadians
2. Develop understanding from observation of the operation of the political system and society
Hartz: (Fragment Theory) Argued that the dominant political value in France when Quebec was first
settled was feudalism, with hierarchical and communitarian characteristics, and the political culture of
Quebec and French Canadians has been distinctive ever since.
Horowitz: (Tory Touch) The Canadian political culture is dominated by liberalism, but it is accompanied
by significant touches of conservatism and socialism
Lipset: (Formative Events) The reaction against the American revolution was Canada’s formative event.
In a way complements Hartz because emphasis on the United Empire Loyalists as principal founders of
Canadian Political Culture.
Ralston Saul: Aboriginal values with which the Loyalists and other European settlers came into contact
were actually more important.
- Fragment Theory: Dominant values established in different parts of North America were those held
by the Europeans who first arrived on this continent and reflected the political culture of the country
from which they came.
- Tory Touch: incorporates collectivism, paternalism, elitism, and a strong state.
- Formative Events: The dominant values of any society have their foundation in great historical
events.
Democracy: Defined by Western world as including the elements of popular sovereignty, political
equality, political freedom, and majority rule.
Popular Sovereignty: People have the final say, which in large, modern political systems usually takes
the form of elections at certain specified intervals.
Political Equality: Everyone is equal on election day meaning that every person has one vote as provided
by the Canada Elections Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Political Freedom: Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides constitutional statement with regards to
fundamental freedoms
Majority Rule: Larger number takes precedence over the smaller number
- Three most striking cases where political freedoms were infringed upon occurred at the federal level
- The notwithstanding clause allows Federal and Provincial governments to override political freedoms
by merely admitting their intentions
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Document Summary
Political culture: the sum total of the politically relevant values, beliefs, attitudes, identities, and orientations in a society. Political culture determines what is normal and acceptable and what is not, and consists of the dominant values and expectations in the political system. These values and expectations lead to the kinds of political decisions and behavior that the various elites in society have deemed to be legitimate. Two methods of identifying political culture: survey individual canadians, develop understanding from observation of the operation of the political system and society. Hartz: (fragment theory) argued that the dominant political value in france when quebec was first settled was feudalism, with hierarchical and communitarian characteristics, and the political culture of. Quebec and french canadians has been distinctive ever since. Horowitz: (tory touch) the canadian political culture is dominated by liberalism, but it is accompanied by significant touches of conservatism and socialism. Lipset: (formative events) the reaction against the american revolution was canada"s formative event.
