The Republican Option in Canada, Past and Present
© 1999
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.
Product Details
- World Rights
- Page Count: 352 pages
- Dimensions: 6.4in x 1.3in x 9.3in
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Reviews
'What marks this book out as important and original is its examination of a question that has hitherto been almost completely ignored in Canadian constitutional discussions: the nature of Canada's monarchy and the question of whether a republican form of government might prove superior. This book may very well have a powerful impact on the subsequent course of constitutional discussions in Canada.'
William Christian, Department of Political Science, University of Guelph -
Author Information
David E. Smith is adjunct faculty in the Department of Politics and Public Administration and a member of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.
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Subjects and Courses