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Political Science Canadian

Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics

by (author) Jack Lucas

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Feb 2024
Category
Canadian, Political Advocacy, Elections
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781487553685
    Publish Date
    Feb 2024
    List Price
    $85.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487553715
    Publish Date
    Mar 2024
    List Price
    $34.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781487553692
    Publish Date
    Feb 2024
    List Price
    $34.95

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Description

One of the most peculiar features of municipal politics in Canada is how frequently local politicians, activists, and scholars disagree about how to describe the municipal arena. For some, municipal politics is distinct from other levels of government, a world of non-ideological elections, pragmatic and technical policymaking, and issue-by-issue policy coalitions. Others argue that municipal politics is similar to politics at other scales, with persistent axes of political disagreement and a recognizable “left” and “right.” This recurring debate features prominently in municipal election campaigns across Canada.

 

In Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics, Jack Lucas investigates municipal ideology in Canada. Using data from original surveys of municipal politicians and the Canadian public, the book reveals how municipal politics is clearly structured by left-right ideology. It shows that municipal politicians represent their constituents’ ideological preferences quite well: they understand their constituents’ ideological perspectives, they align with their constituents’ preferences, and they are elected in part because of their ideological alignment with voters.

 

A lively and accessible study, Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics will appeal to readers interested in municipal politics, political ideology, and political representation.

About the author

Jack Lucas is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary.

Jack Lucas' profile page