Spring 2019 - POL 322 D100
Canadian Political Parties (4)
Class Number: 6172
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
-
Course Times + Location:
Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
BurnabyJan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Apr 13, 2019
Sat, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Burnaby
-
Instructor:
Cara Camcastle
ccamcast@sfu.ca
-
Prerequisites:
Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Development of the Canadian party system. Party ideologies, organization, campaigns and elections.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course analyzes the contribution of political parties to Canada’s democracy. How do political parties organize to serve divergent interests? Which individuals are more likely to join political parties? How democratic is the process by which candidates are nominated and the national party leaders are selected? Regulations pertaining to party financing have been recently changed. Have these changes enhanced representative democracy? How strongly do Canadian voters identify with a particular party, and what impact does the perception of the leader have on voter choice? What is the nature of the relationship between parties and the media? What explains the remarkable turnaround in the 2015 election for the Liberal Party? What is the impact of digital technologies on political parties in Canada? How has conservatism evolved over time and taken divergent regional interests into account? Why has a country with a first-past-the post electoral system produced so many electorally effective third parties, such as the NDP and the Green Party? After completing this course students will be better equipped to understand and analyze the strategies of political parties and the results of the upcoming federal election that is scheduled to take place on or before October 21, 2019.
There will be two 2-hour seminars each week.
Grading
- Small Group exercises 20%
- Synopsis and Analysis 10%
- Term paper 30%
- Final exam 30%
- Participation 10%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Canadian Parties in Transition ed. Alain-G. Gagnon and A. Brian Tanguay, 4th edition (University of Toronto Press 2017)
ISBN: 9781442634701
MacIvor, Heather Election. (Emond Publications 2009)
ISBN: 9781552393215
Harper, Stephen J. Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in an Age of Disruption (McClelland Stewart 2018)
ISBN: 9780771038624
a small custom courseware available at the SFU Bookstore
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS