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Political Science Canadian

Western Visions, Western Futures

Perspectives on the West in Canada, Second Edition

by (author) Roger Gibbins & Loleen Berdahl

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Jun 2003
Category
Canadian, Regional Studies, History & Theory
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781551114880
    Publish Date
    Jun 2003
    List Price
    $43.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487571566
    Publish Date
    Jun 2003
    List Price
    $43.95

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Description

Western Visions, Western Futures explores the interplay between western alienation and western aspirations. Because of regional optimism, western Canadians often feel alienated from the rest of Canada or, more specifically, from the federal government: western Canadians are concerned that their aspirations are not shared by the rest of Canada and, worse, that conflicting "national"policy choices and political realities have and will work to undermine the interests of the West. The book is rich in both data and history. Combining strong analysis with graphs and illustrative quotations, it presents a comprehensive overview of key western Canadian trends and policy issues and places these within a national context.

Western Visions, Western Futures outlines a number of process and policy options for federal and provincial governments both to help fulfill western aspirations and to address western alienation. The authors argue that the future prosperity and well-being of Canada are integrally tied to the future of the West, and leaving western alienation unaddressed for another 50 or 100 years will only serve to weaken or destroy the whole country.

Western Visions, Western Futures is a revised, updated, and expanded edition of Western Visions by Roger Gibbins and Sonia Arrison (Broadview Press 1995), there is little in common between the two books. Many of the themes are the same, but the new book draws heavily on a wealth of Canada West Foundation data that has recently come available.

About the authors

Roger Gibbins is President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation and a Faculty Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary. Dr. Gibbins has published 20 books and over 100 articles and book chapters, most dealing with western Canadian themes and issues. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1998 and served as President of the Canadian Political Science Association from 1999 to 2000.

Roger Gibbins' profile page

Loleen Berdahl is the Director of Research at the Canada West Foundation. Dr. Berdahl's particular research interests include urban policy, regionalism and federalism.  In 2001 and 2003, Dr. Berdahl directed the Looking West surveys, western Canada's largest-ever public opinion survey. Dr. Berdahl has co-authored two books, Mindscapes: Political Ideologies Toward the Twenty-First Century (1996, with Roger Gibbins), and Explorations: A Navigator's Guide to Quantitative Research in Political Science (1998, with Keith Archer and Roger Gibbins).

Loleen Berdahl's profile page