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Political Science General

Waiting for the Wave

The Reform Party and the Conservative Movement

by (author) Tom Flanagan

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
May 2009
Category
General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780773535466
    Publish Date
    May 2009
    List Price
    $110.00
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780773535688
    Publish Date
    May 2009
    List Price
    $34.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780773578630
    Publish Date
    May 2009
    List Price
    $34.95

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Description

In Waiting for the Wave, Tom Flanagan studies the rapid rise of the Reform Party and presents some fascinating insights into the party and its leaders. He corrects two popular misconceptions about Preston Manning: that his political philosophy is directly derived from his religious convictions, and that he is an extreme right-wing conservative. Flanagan examines Manning's strategy of populism (listening to "the common sense of the common people") and illustrates how he used this strategy to "catch waves" of popular discontent to boost support for his party. Having held various positions within the party, Flanagan is able to portray its inner workings, revealing some of the personal ideologies of party members and showing how these conflicted with Manning's strategy of populism.

About the author

Tom Flanagan is Distinguished Fellow in the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. Former director of research for the Reform Party, and former campaign manager for Stephen Harper's Conservative Party, he is the author of Harper's Team: Behind the Scenes in the Conservative Rise to Power.

Tom Flanagan's profile page