The republican option in Canada, past and present / David E. Smith.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Examines the history, prospects, and implications of republicanism in Canada, traces the ambivalence of Canadians to the concept, and demonstrates the conflict republican theories and practices present for parliamentary systems of the British model.

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CHOICE Review

His well-researched, carefully presented study examines Canadian political culture through the device of analyzing Canada's response to republicanism. David Smith (Univ. of Saskatchewan), one of Canada's leading political scientists, begins by analyzing the appeal of republicanism and then traces the history of Canadian attitudes toward republican institutions and practices before Confederation as Canadians moved toward establishing a balance for their own regime. He also contrasts Canada's experience with that of Australia, which is now moving toward some sort of republicanism, and explains that one of the most important points of difference is simply geography. For Australia, he says, republicanism is a symbol of distinction, while for Canada it provides no distinction, not only because the US is so close by but also because Canadians do not typically perceive the differences between their country and their neighbor as based on "republicanism." The study also provides an intensive consideration of topics such as representation, participation, federalism, and citizenship and thereby offers a valuable exposition of Canadian distinctiveness. Of interest to students of comparative politics and to Canadianists. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. P. Regenstreif; University of Rochester