Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cognitive Assimilation-Contrast Effects Among Partisan Identifiers: An Analysis Of The 1993 Canadian National Election, Jordan Colby

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The electoral debut of the Reform Party and Bloc Quebecois allows for an examination of the character and role of party identification in political cognition in a manner not previously available to researchers. Campbell and colleagues (1960) American Voter presented a psychological basis for understanding individual-level voting behaviour, where party identification affects the vote choice directly and acts as a perceptual screen where the screening function distorts perceptions of political objects that are inconsistent with the citizen's existing political attitudes. The findings of this study are largely consistent with the notion that, among those who acknowledge an association with a …

Selective Incentives And The Formation Of Interest Groups: The Case Of The Canadian Federation Of Students (Cfs), Peter Dow Arthur

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study focuses on the factors that motivate individuals to participate in the affairs of collective action organizations and ultimately take up leadership responsibilities. The leadership of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is used as a case study because it is an organization that purports to represent the interest of students in post-secondary institutions in Canada. The study employed personal interviews as the main method of data collection. The interviews were semi-structured since certain questions were asked as a result of the responses given to questions in the interview schedule. The interviews enabled the researcher to probe into the …

A Tripolar World? A Framework For Analysis, Heidi J. Bachert-Burke

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The complex changes which are now under way have sparked a great deal of interest and speculation around possible world order, futures and the U.S.' relationship to them. The predominant image of the New World Order is one which hinges on the development of a liberal, economic multipolar world order in which mutual responsibility and macro-policy coordination become effective means of global management. Indeed this perspective is prone to see the possibility for change through peaceful and harmonious means. In as much as advocates of Interdependency Theory try to anticipate, explore and systematize, they seem to override a very important …

Collective Consciousness And Self-Societal Definition: A Theory And Model For A Direct Democracy, John Blaikie Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis builds a theory of ideal democracy based on the concept of human self-realization as intersubjectively determined. Self-realization and intersubjectivity, it argues, is founded on the existential notion of "choice". Self-realization is broadened, it is argued, by broadening the choices available to individuals. The thesis attempts to broaden individual choices by broadening participation in democracy. The thesis then constructs a practical model for a direct democracy using modern telecommunications networks. The intent of the theory is to build an intuitive myth of Universal Leadership that transcends the liberal myth of freedom. It outlines the liberal notion of the 'contract' …

Government And Interest Group Relations: An Analysis Of The Canadian Association For The Advancement Of Women And Sport, Susan Lesley Forbes

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport (CAAWS) is a non-profit feminist advocacy organization established to work towards enhancing the position of women and girls in sport in Canada. Imbedded in a sport system which reflects societal values, CAAWS has undertaken activities to eliminate gender inequity, such as lack of acknowledgment, inadequate financial support and limited opportunities for participation, in Canadian sport. This study has addressed the question of whether or not CAAWS has been coopted as a result of its relationship with the federal government agencies responsible for sport in Canada (i.e., Sport Canada and Sport …

Turkey's Experience With Corporatism, Nilgun Onder

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this study is to explore Turkey’s experience with corporatism from the founding of the Republic in 1923 onwards. In this study, corporatism is defined as a particular political structure within the capitalist system which acts as a linkage mechanism between the state and society. It is basically related to labour and capital organizations, and their relationship to the state.

The analysis of the Turkish case remains loyal to the traditional authoritarian/liberal corporatism classification. It is asked whether Turkey exhibits the characteristics of authoritarian corporatism or liberal corporatism, or both? Was there a transition from one type to …

The Impact Of Home Entertainment Technologies On Government's Ability To Regulate Sexually Explicit Materials, Mike Strathdee

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis examines the impact of home entertainment technologies (pay TV, home satellite dishes and video cassettes) on the ability of governments and regulatory officials to control sexually explicit materials. Information was gathered through personal interviews, a literature review and a nation-wide mail survey of 400 people selected because of their professional experience or personal interest in the topic. The first section of the thesis provides an overview of regulation in western nations. sets out the philosophical case for restrictions on sexually explicit materials from the conservative, liberal, feminist and Christian perspectives and explains the purpose of the study. A …

Negativity In The Evaluations Of Political Leaders, Timothy John Stanford Utting

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The perception of political leaders has been, and continues to be, a primary component in the electoral process. Researchers have presented findings which indicate that the evaluation of party leaders is an important determinant of the vote decision. Even though these findings have aided our understanding of the importance of candidate evaluations, the literature has provided very little information about the dynamics involved in the perception of political leaders. In this thesis, we are interested in the dynamics involved in the evaluation of political leaders. More specifically, our examination concerns the presence of negativity effects which have been identified by …

Party Images And Party Identification In Canada, Ian Cotter

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The notion that electors acquire an enduring allegiance to a political party has guided the study of voting behaviour and elections in western democracies for almost three decades. Yet when used outside the United States, where the concept was developed, party identification has been greeted with less unanimous enthusiasm. For Canadian scholars, debate over the concept revolves primarily around (1) the empirical independence of party identification and the vote and (2) the stability of such attachments. Indeed, this debate has occupied much of the efforts of previous analysts in Canada. In this thesis, we reexamine the conventional wisdom about party …

The Impact Of Trait Attributions On Evaluations Of Political Leaders, Cathy Widdis Barr

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Evaluations of political leaders have long been considered an important component of the vote decision. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted in Canada on voters’ overall evaluations of their political leaders. Indeed, the topic has only recently received much systematic attention in the comparative literature. The study of how voters’ judgements about the personality characteristics of candidates affect their overall evaluations of those candidates is an area that has been particularly neglected. In this thesis, we test three hypotheses about the impact of personality trait attributions on voters’ overall evaluations of Canadian federal party leaders. The data for our analyses …

Quebec-Us Relations Under The Parti Quebecois, D. Keith Heintzman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Quebec-U.S. interactions frm 1976 to 1980 are analysed in relation to American apprehension over the election of the Parti Quebecois and the P.Q. government’s ability to accommodate the American economic community.Analysis of this interaction is conducted in terms of the risks to corporate operations posed by P.Q. policies and the effect of P.Q. communications on corporate perceptions of this risk. A formal bargaining model—developed using the concept from game theory of “critical risk”—forms the theoretical basis for explaining changes in the American response. Each province’s economic transactions with the U.S. are described along with provincial influences on Canadian foreign policy. …

Nationalism And Integration, Allan Harold Moore

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The hypothesis of the paper is that nationalism and integration are compatible with each other, and only conflict when the integrationist tendencies in society become overbearing. To study the hypothesis to the fullest extent possible, we explored it in both intellectual and concrete terms. Chapter One looks at the literature on nationalism and concludes that it can be used in the integration processes of society. Chapter Two examines how nationalism is treated by the modern proponents of integration. The functionalist, neo-functionalist, federalist and pluralist schools of integration are explored in the chapter. Chapter Three examines the hypothesis in concrete terms …

The Effect Of Political Partisanship On The Allocation Of Funds For Job Creation In The Province Of Ontario, Darrell Jay Bricker

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis examines the role of political considerations in the development and administration of programs that are the responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. Previous research has shown that political considerations do influence public policy outputs, however, this research mostly addresses programs administered by a single level of government. This thesis explores this question further by analyzing and comparing two similar allocative programs: the Canada/Ontario Employment Development (COED) program administered jointly by the federal government and the government of Ontario; and the Canada Works program administered solely by the federal government. Drawing on a comparative analysis of the two …

The Effects Of Different Competitive Situations On The Political Content Of Daily Newspapers, Deborah Joan Stalker

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The value of the daily newspaper to the individuals who read it is at the core of this study. Some have felt that the newspaper has been affected for the worse by a loss in competition in many communities. Their worries often centre on the effects that the loss could have on the role of a newspaper and on its responsibilities to the public. The previous research on this topic has failed to turn up evidence of a substantial difference between monopoly and competitive newspapers. Canadian works on this subject were scant and, in light of the report of the …

The Technical, Legal And Political Implications Of Remote Sensing Satellites, Matthew Mahoney

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis examines the phenomenon of reconnaissance satellites and their role in the present arms race. While volumes of material have been written on the arms race in general, or the weapons race in particular, very little has been written on the role of satellites in this conflict and almost nothing has been written on the role of reconnaissance satellites. There is a need for much greater debate on the role of reconnaissance satellites in outer space. Reconnaissance satellites have, in part, rewritten the meaning of the arms race and they have contributed significantly to arms reductions talks between the …

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Stabilization Policy Response To Political And Economic Conditions In The Provinces: Canada, 1960–79, Scott Alexander Mcalpine

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The central problem which is addressed by this thesis is that of attaining the goal of economic stabilization through the utilization of fiscal policy. More specifically, the responsiveness of fiscal policy to the political and economic conditions which prevail in the provinces is examined. The central hypothesis is that fiscal policy instruments which are typically thought of in terms of economic stabilization policy are not utilized for such purposes. Rather, fiscal economic stabilization policy at both the federal as well as the provincial levels is responsive to political conditions. To the extent that this hypothesis is an accurate reflection of …

The Appropriateness Of The Concept Of The Individual, Frank Clancy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The fundamental concepts of any discipline ought to be examined periodically, not only to understand what constitutes those principles or concepts but also to ensure that our basic assumptions are logically and empirically acceptable. This thesis calls for the reexamination of the concept of the “individual” and of its role as the basic or fundamental unit of human society. Two suggestions are made an indications that possible alternative views are logically consistent with the data presently at our disposal. The first suggestion is that the concept of the individual in Western culture was formed largely as a by-product of a …

Maintenance Of An Empire: Soviet Foreign Behaviour In The ’80s, Pierre Eugene Lacompte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The thesis undertakes an examination of certain Soviet problems which upon analysis serve to support the views of publicists such as Richard Nixon, Richard Pipes, Edward Luttwak, Paul Nitze, and Eugene Rostow. These experts argue that the Soviet Union is bent on a course of world hegemony. The objective of the thesis is to determine if the Soviet leadership is under lateral pressure to expand. Two proportions underline the broad theme of the thesis: that the Soviet Union is the de facto Russian empire, with the same concerns, i.e. stability and Russian domination; that real arms restraint on the part …

Civil Rights And The Anglo-Jewish Press In Canada: 1930-1970, Irwin Pollock

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Relative to other countries, such as the United States, there exists little scholarly work on minority groups in Canada. Aside from filling a natural academic void, minority studies are especially relevant because of this country’s multi-ethnic composition. In particular, this study attempts to examine certain attitudes found within the press of one minority group—Jewish Canadians.

Canada’s Jewish community has not hesitated to involve itself in almost all aspects of Canadian society—academia, science, politics, etc. It has also not hesitated to comment through its own press, on the urgent political issues of the day. In this study I will focus on …

A Critique And Analysis Of The Decline-Of-Ideology Thesis, George Nikolakakos

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The exponents of the decline-of-ideology thesis have failed to provide a serious analysis of the political, economic, and ideological trends of the period. They were wrong in their predictions that Marxism and radical ideologies would lose their power to motivate. They were also wrong in their predictions that the two great ideological systems were converging. Not only did they fail to provide an analysis of the political, economic, and ideological trends of the period, but they also failed to provide a serious analysis of ideology as a concept.

In an attempt to define ideology, I trace its appearance and usage …

The Origin Of Ideology: Marx’S Method Of Human Liberation And Husserl’S Investigation Of Judgments, Bryce Weber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis begins by asking how alienation can be distinguished by objectification. By examining the first chapter of Capital I and the Grundrisse it is discovered that Marx’s theory of labour hinges on an understanding of the psychic process of the subject. In order to universalize Marx’s method the thesis shifts to Husserl’s examination of the subjective process of judging. The latter is understood in this thesis as structurally equivalent to Marx’s understanding of labour. It is discovered that the meaning of any act of judging/labour is irreal. Alienation is thus discovered to be the naive belief in the factual …

A Thematic Analysis Of National Science Policy In Canada, 1963–1977, Donald James Naulls

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is an analysis of the accommodation of science policy at the federal level in Canada during the 1963 to 1977 period. A general definition of science policy is developed in the first section. This ‘national science policy’ concept is then used to study changes in the administration of science and research at the federal level. Two distinct sets of developments were found to be responsible for the incorporation of national science policy into the administrative procedures and the political arena.

A Theoretical Inquiry Into The Problematic Nature Of Canadian Defence Policy, Dennis William Barber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis attempts to analyze the problematic nature of Canada’s defence policy by utilizing general systems theory as the prime method of inquiry. While much of the existing literature on Canadian defence policy is of a singular or partial nature, there is a need for a more holistic approach to the study of defence policy.

General systems theory, being a normative theory with a scientific base, assumes a holistic approach while offering explanations in behavioural phenomena as well as indicating possible future conditions.

This thesis examines the past and present of Canadian defence policy as seen in the perspective of …

The Influence Of Political Leaders On The Provincial Performance Of The Liberal Party In British Columbia, Henrik J. Von Winthus

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis examines the development of Liberalism in British Columbia from the aspect of leader influence. It intends to verify the hypothesis that in the formative period of provincial politics in British Columbia (1871-1941) the average voter was more leader-oriented than party-oriented. The method of inquiry is predominantly historical.

In chronological sequence the body of the thesis describes British Columbia’s political history from 1871, when the province entered Canadian confederation, to the resignation of premier Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, in 1941. The incision was made at this point, because the following eleven year coalition period would not yield data relevant to …

Schlagende Verbindungen: Modern Communitarians?, R.G.S. Weber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The study of communities and the concept of communitarianism have occupied the thoughts and works of many of the foremost social scientists of our time. However, societal integration through ties to clan and family lie on the other side of the Industrial Revolution and our own contemporary mass society calls for ever increasing liberation of the individual from his primary allegiances. Liberal individualism orients man away from any commitment other than to that of self fulfillment, accomplished more often than not through material ends. Thus we find that the study of communitarianism has grown out of a disenchantment with individualism. …

Defence Policy And The Unification Of The Canadian Armed Forces: An Analysis, John C. Hood

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis paper is an analysis of the relationship between defence policy and the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. While much of the literature and commentary in recent years has centered upon the ‘management’ aspects of unification, this thesis argues that unification was devised in order to re-assert civilian control and direction over the services. Unification then, affects not only the administration of the services, but also, the ‘structuring of influence’ between the civilian authority and the defence establishment, which in turn contributes to the method through which defence priorities are determined.

The thesis also examines the congruence between …

African Political Instability: Theoretical Implications, Jo Ann Mourides

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

While we in the latter half of the twentieth century have been experiencing the emergence of a multitude of new ‘developing’ states, we have also come to realize not just a scholarly interest in governments different from our own, but a pressing need for greater understanding and constructive co-operation among states working in a rapidly shrinking area. In the academic world, the coming to independence of close to two-score African countries stimulated a surge of interest. The field of comparative politics in particular was faced with a double-barrelled challenge: the development of approaches to the study of the African political …

The Structure Of Party Solidarity In The Ontario Legislative Assembly, James Edward Twiss

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Between reactionaries and radicals a wide gulf exists in terms of political opinions. Within much narrower realms of conflict are the political issues which separate the body politic into contending groups. Within this narrower ideological spectrum a survey of the Twenty-Ninth Parliament of the Ontario Legislative Assembly was undertaken. This survey sought data on the attitudes of legislators towards various beliefs, interest groups, symbols and values. These efforts were made in order to test the existence of ideological differences between the present political parties of Ontario.

The responses to the ideological questions were manipulated to construct attitudinal patterns. The results …

The Political Implications Of The Canada-United States Automobile Agreement, William G. Park

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Since the Canada-United States Automobile Agreement came into effect in 1965 there has been relatively little scholarly comment on it. This is surprising in view of the attention which has been given to other bilateral treaties between the two countries and in view of the effect that the treaty has had on the operation of the automobile industry in both countries. In fact, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study which has examined the Automobile Agreement from a political point of view.

The Agreement came into effect at the time of political re-evaluation in Canada. …

Contemporary Student Radicals And Their Belief Systems, Lloyd M. Tataryn

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Student activism has become so familiar a feature of Western politics that the silent generation of students in the 1950’s and early 1960’s almost seems an aberrant phenomenon. Because radical students confront social authorities demanding reforms, it is not surprising that many in positions of authority eye student radicals with certain misgivings. An apprehensive attitude therefore exists on both sides. This study of student unrest analyses the relationship between technological innovation and social cleavage in order to trace the development of the differing attitudes and value sets over a period of time. The value dichotomy can be most appropriately illustrated …