Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - POL 322 D100

Canadian Political Parties (4)

Class Number: 7414

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 11, 2020
    Fri, 11:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • 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 examines political parties and party systems in Canada, informed through a comparative perspective. It will to help students to achieve a comprehensive and critical understanding of the history and contemporary makeup of Canada’s political parties, and the roles that they continue to play in Canadian politics.

Discussion will cover the ideological and historical underpinnings of Canada’s parties and party systems, the functions of parties aggregating and navigating diverse interests, the conduct and regulation of modern political campaigns, the roles of parties in the maintenance of democracy, inter and intra-party political dynamics, the institutional and behavioural makeup of political parties, and the nature and dynamics of Canada’s party systems, past and present.

The course will also touch on contemporary issues including campaign finance reform, the rise of populism, democracy and security, and the evolving role of media and the internet on party politics.

At the conclusion of the course, students will understand the origins and subsequent evolution of Canadian politics within a comparative context, and be able to describe and analyze the major challenges that the country’s parties face today today.

Course Format:

The three-hour class will include a mixture of lecture, group discussions, in-class assignments, and audio-visual content. Course will include two hours of synchronous learning per week, and one hour asynchronous learning.

Grading

  • Participation 10%
  • Readings review 1 20%
  • Readings review 2 20%
  • Major paper outline 5%
  • Major paper 20%
  • Synchronous Final exam 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Gagnon, Alain and Brian Tanguay. 2016. Canadian Parties in Transition. 4th ed. University of Toronto Press.


ISBN: 9781442634701

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).