Debating how Canada compares – both regionally and in relation to other countries – is a national pastime. This book examines how political scientists use comparison as a tool to better understand Canadian political life. Using a variety of methods, the contributors explore topics as diverse as Indigenous rights, voting behaviour, and climate policy. While their theoretical perspectives and the kinds of questions they explore vary greatly, as a whole they demonstrate how the “art of comparing” is an important strategy for understanding Canadian identity politics, political mobilization, political institutions, and public policy.

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Martin Papillon is an associate professor in the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa.

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Jennifer Wallner is an assistant professor in the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa.

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This is a noteworthy edited collection which illustrates the benefits of comparative studies in political science in Canada. It will appeal more to specialist readers than general readers as some of the chapters are quite theoretical, but it is nevertheless highly recommended.

British Journal of Canadian Studies, Vol. 29 No. 2, Fall 2016