Canada is one of a declining number of monarchies in the world, yet Canadians have never seriously considered a republican alternative. The nature of Canada's monarchy and the question of whether a republican form of government might prove superior are, in fact, subjects that are all but ignored in Canadian constitutional discussions. This study explores why this is so and what it reveals about Canadian political culture.

David E. Smith examines the history, prospects, and implications of republicanism in Canada. With reference to classical, French, and American republican theories, he traces the ambivalence of Canadians to the concept and demonstrates the conflict republican theories and practices present for parliamentary systems of the British model. Smith offers an impressive, thorough, and fresh analysis of the implications of the republican option.