PSC 345
CANADIAN POLITICS
FALL 2000
| MWF 2:00pm-2:50pm |
|
Dr. Erick Duchesne |
| 250 Park Hall |
|
415 Park Hall |
| Office Hours: W 3-5pm, F 9:30am-11:30am |
|
Phone: 645-2251 x415 |
|
|
duchesne@acsu.buffalo.edu |
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Canada is currently going through an important political crisis. Its
own existence is threatened. The failure of recent constitutional tentative
reforms is the most visible symptom of the crisis. Deep roots of the crisis
can be traced back in the Canadian social environment, especially in its
ethnic and regional cleavages. A study of the language, culture, and regionalism
will lead us to a better understanding of Canadian political behavior and
institutions.
On one hand, this class focuses on micropolitics, i.e., the study of
political agents: the citizen, the voter, the politician, the legislator.
On the other hand, it turns to the study of macropolitics, i.e.,
the study of Canadian political institutions: constitution, parliament,
executive branch, public administration, political parties, and interest
groups.
READINGS
There are only two books assigned to this class:
DYCK, Rand, 2000, Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches, 3rd.
Ed., Toronto, Nelson Canada.
MALCOMSON, Patrick and Richard MYERS, 1996, The Canadian Regime,
Peterborough, Broadview Press.
Examinations will cover material from ALL required readings. Lectures
will complement, but NOT reproduce, the materials from the readings.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
2 examinations 70% (40% or 30% each)
Quizzes, assignments, and class attendance 30%
EXAMS
Make-up exams will be given only to students with medical or personal
emergencies (e.g. death in the family). If an emergency arises, you will
need to contact me before the exam. I will be strict on this policy.
The exams will be weighted in the following way: your best score among
the two exams will be worth 40% of your final grade and the second best
30%. The dates of the exams are indicated below. The exams will consist
of a mix of multiple choices, true or false, short answers and take-home
essays. Take-home essays will be distributed one week prior to the in-class
exams and they will be due in class at the beginning of the examination.
QUIZZES, EXERCISES, AND CLASS ATTENDANCE
There will be regular quizzes during the semester. The value
of each quiz will vary, but none will exceed five points. There will be
no make up for these quizzes. I will also take attendance. You will receive
one point if you are present. There is also a possibility of short exercises,
which you will do at home. The combination of quizzes, assignments, and
class attendance will be weighted to amount 30% of your final grade.
You are expected to attend class regularly and take notes. A majority
of the material for the exams is taken from lecture. I will use materials
for lectures that are not covered in the readings. Therefore, if you miss
class, it is your responsibility to get lecture notes from a classmate.
I will not give, under any circumstances, my lecture notes to students.
GRADING SCALE
90% to 100% = A
87% to 89.9% = A-
84% to 86.9% = B+
80% to 83.9% = B
76% to 79.9% = B-
72% to 75.9% = C+
68% to 71.9% = C
64% to 67.9% = C-
60% to 63.9% = D+
50% to 59.9% = D
< 50% = F
WEB PAGE
The course web page will be a central element of the class. The web
page will contain the class syllabus, lecture overheads, assignments, midterm
review sheets, additional readings, student contact information, links
to sites relating to Canadian Politics and International Relations, and
other useful information. The page's address is: http://montana.fss.buffalo.edu/classes/psc/duchesne/psc345/index.html.
TOPICS/READINGS
Monday August 28
1)Introduction: Syllabus, course description
2) Cleavages and political conflicts
Discussion: What are the principal political conflicts in Canada?
Wednesday August 30
1) Cleavages and political conflicts (Cont’d)
Discussion: What are the principal political conflicts in Canada?
2) Introduction to Canada
Friday September 1
1) Introduction to Canada
Monday September 4
NO CLASS: LABOR DAY
Wednesday September 6-Monday September 11
1) The Constitution
Discussion: The early constitutional context and its evolution.
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 2; Malcomson & Myers, Chapters 1
and 2.
Wednesday September 13- Wednesday September 20
1) The Executive: The Crown
Discussion: Should we abolish the power of the Queen?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 475-81; Malcomson & Myers, pp. 109-16.
2) The Executive: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
Discussion: A "One Man Show?" How are decisions made?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 481-503; Malcomson and Myers, pp. 116-23.
Friday September 22-Friday September 29
1) The Legislative: Senate and House of Commons, and Legislative Process
Discussion: Should the Senate be elected? Should more power
be granted to the house? Too many pitfalls in the legislative process?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 22; Malcomson & Myers, Chapter 3,
and pp. 127-39.
Monday October 2- Friday October 6
1) The Judiciary: The Court System and the Charter of Rights and Freedom
Discussion: Have the reforms gone too far?
Readings: Dyck, Chapters 18 and 23; Malcomson & Myers, Chapters
5 and 8.
Tuesday October 10- Monday October 16
NOTE: NO CLASS ON MONDAY OCTOBER 9, BUT TUESDAY OCTOBER 10 FOLLOWS
MONDAY SCHEDULE
NOTE: DISTRIBUTION OF TAKE-HOME ESSAYS ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 10
1) Political Ideologies and Parties: Liberalism
Discussion: Does the Liberal Party still represent the Whigs’
tradition?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 14, Malcomson & Myers, Chapter 10.
2) Political Ideologies and Parties: Conservatism
Discussion: Does the Progressive Conservative Party still represent
the Tories’ tradition?
3) Political Ideologies and Parties: Socialism
Discussion: The end of radicalism?
4) Political Ideologies and Parties: The new parties
Discussion: The rise of regionalism.
Wednesday October 18
FIRST EXAMINATION
Friday October 20- Monday October 30
1) Political Culture and National Values
Discussion: What are the Canadian national values? Are they
similar to those of the Americans?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 10.
2) Political Socialization
Discussion: What are the agents of political socialization?
What is their impact?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 11.
Wednesday November 1-Monday November 6
1) Regional Economic Cleavages
Discussion: What is the importance of regionalism in Canada?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 3.
Wednesday November 8
1) Class Cleavages: Pressure Groups
Discussion: Do social classes affect Canadian Politics?
Readings: Dyck, Chapters 8 and 15; Malcomson & Myers, Chapter
11
Friday November 10-Monday November 20
1) Ethnic Cleavages: The First Nations
Discussion: Is there a role for the First Nations in Canadian
Politics?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 4.
2) Ethnic Cleavages: Other Ethnic Groups
Discussion: Canada: A Mosaic or a Melting Pot?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 6.
3) Ethnic Cleavages: The Linguistic Debate
Discussion: What is the state of the French language in Canada?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 5.
NOTE: FALL RECESS IS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 24- SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26
NOTE: TAKE-HOME ESSAYS DISTRIBUTED ON FRIDAY DECEMBER
Monday November 27-Wednesday December 6
1) Recent Constitutional Politics and the Future of Canada
Discussion: Will the "Quebec Problem" ever go away?
Readings: Dyck, Chapters 16 and 24.
Friday December 8
SECOND EXAMINATION