The Development of Political Thought in Canada: An Anthology

Canada has a rich family of traditions of original political thought that have had an enormous influence on Canadian life and the wider world. Yet, there are very few anthologies, and thus it is difficult to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in this area or for the general public to learn about these traditions. The Development of Political Thought in Canada, edited by Katherine Fierlbeck, herself a well-known political theorist, is an excellent anthology and introduction to this family of traditions from Lord Durham and Henri Bourassa, through Macpherson, Douglas and Trudeau, to Will Kymlicka and Michael Ignatieff, and across a broad spectrum of authors and themes in between. I strongly recommend this anthology for undergraduate and graduate courses in Canadian political thought and for citizens who wish to know more about the best of their own traditions.

James Tully, Distinguished Professor and Trudeau Fellow, University of Victoria

Katherine Fierlbeck has made a very intelligent selection of items and has contextualized them helpfully by way of both the 'big picture' that she provides and the commentaries that introduce sections and chapters. Moreover, the book is introduced with a flair that should really help to engage students who need to understand why history is important.

Richard Vernon, University of Western Ontario

There has been a dearth of recent textbooks dealing with Canadian political thought. Katherine Fierlbeck's anthology will significantly help to close the gap.

Philip Resnick, University of British Columbia