Lecture 14: Canadian Political Culture

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Lecture 14 Canadian Political Culture

• SOSC 152

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Key Topics

• Cognition
• B. Affect
• C. Comparing American and Canadian

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A. Cognition

• What do people know about their political system?
• Canadians appear relatively well informed about
  federal and provincial governments.
• 97 knew that there had been a free trade
  agreement, while only 57 of Americans knew this.
  Q.10
• 83 knew that U.S. was Canadas major trading
  partner while only 12 of Americans knew this.
  Q13-14

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B. Affect

• What do citizens feel about the major political
  institutions, such as Parliament, parties, the
  media and the courts?
• Figures 3.1 shows strongest confidence in
  Parliament27 respect Commons a great deal
• Serious doubts about Federal government41 had
  very little confidence in Fed. Government (due to
  Mulroney government)
• Figure 3.2 shows that despite average score for
  respect for Party in 1990, since 1979, major
  decline in respect for and confidence in
  political parties.

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National Institution 1979-92
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• When asked how much respect they had for
  political parties, those selecting a great deal
  or a lot declined from 30 in 1979 to 9 in
  1992.
• Reflects parties declining role in resolving
  conflicts within Canadian federalism.
• Most positive feelings for Supreme Court (55)
  and Newspapers (38)
• Canadians highly patriotic and much of
  self-definition based on anti-Americanism - only
  27 would like to live in the United States,
  while 42 of Americans would like to live in
  Canada. Q15-16
• 85 of Canadians strongly oppose or oppose
  becoming the 51st state, while 62 of Americans
  favor or strongly favor Canada becoming the
  51st state Q8-9

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C. Comparing Canadian and American Attitudes
Towards Politics

• 1. Self-perceptions
• Canadians see themselves as tolerant (38),
  independent minded (27), peaceful (26) Q11
• Americans stress independent minded (52),
  tolerant (21) and peaceful (12) Q12

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• 2. Role of State in Economy/ Welfare (1989)
• a. Right to publicly funded health care system
  Q3
• 71 of Canadians see this as absolute right,
  while 52 of Americans do.
• b. Right to Minimum Income
• 62 of Canadians, 51 of Americans

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NATIONAL IDENTITY and Political Culture

• 1. Louis Hartz
• Colonial Society as fragmented society
• immigrants bring their ideology with them, which
  is only one part of the ideological spectrum
  within original country,
• they leave rest of spectrum behind.
• dynamic of old spectrum--i.e., battles among
  political ideas and political organizations, left
  behind.
• historical and ideological development in new
  society differs greatly,
• immigrant political values dominate new society.

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• 2. Canada had two cultures (two fragments), one
  in Quebec, one in English Canada
• Quebec political culture
• "feudal fragments"-- traditional, elitist, strong
  state, strong Church--parochial political
  culture, feudal land ownership
• Quebec settled and ideologically fixed before
  French Revolution and emergence of French
  liberalism.
• Quebec politically passive until 1960s.

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• English Canada mix of "liberal tradition" with
  elitist and traditional (Burkean) ideology of the
  United Empire Loyalists who fled the U.S.
• mix of equality, liberty free enterprise with
  collectivism, more hierarchical than U.S. with
  greater acceptance of state role in economic
  development.
• Socialism results from 20th century migrants
• pressures from Western Canada farmers, European
  immigrants who want protection against moneyed
  interests in Ontario.
• broader spectrum of political views than in U.S.
  with socialism, liberalism, and statism in
  Canada, while US is dominated by liberal
  tradition, smaller state and no socialist base of
  support

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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue
1. (To Canadians) What is the most important problem facing Canada today, the one that concerns you the most? (To Canadians) What is the most important problem facing Canada today, the one that concerns you the most? (To Canadians) What is the most important problem facing Canada today, the one that concerns you the most?
Pollution/environment 17
Unemployment 10
Free trade 9
Deficit/national debt 9
Social/moral 9
Inflation 5

2. (To Americans) What is the most important problem facing the United States today, the one that concerns you the most? (To Americans) What is the most important problem facing the United States today, the one that concerns you the most? (To Americans) What is the most important problem facing the United States today, the one that concerns you the most?
Drugs/alcohol 18
Deficit 16
Social Moral 6
Homeless/poverty 6
Pollution/environment 5
Economy 5
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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue (cond)
3. Do you view the following as an absolute right that can never be taken away, or as a limited right, one which in certain circumstances can be limited by government? Do you view the following as an absolute right that can never be taken away, or as a limited right, one which in certain circumstances can be limited by government? Do you view the following as an absolute right that can never be taken away, or as a limited right, one which in certain circumstances can be limited by government?
a) A publicly funded health care system available to all, regardless of financial situation a) A publicly funded health care system available to all, regardless of financial situation a) A publicly funded health care system available to all, regardless of financial situation
Canada U.S.
Limited right 29 46
Absolute right 71 52
No opinion 3
b) A guaranteed minimum income for everyone
Canada U.S.
Limited right 37 47
Absolute right 62 51
No opinion 1 2

4. Do you own a handgun?
Canada U.S.
Yes 3 24
No 97 75
No opinion 1
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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue (cond)
5. What do you think is better for Canada/the United States that new immigrants be encouraged to maintain their distinct culture and ways, or to change their distinct culture and ways to blend with the large society? What do you think is better for Canada/the United States that new immigrants be encouraged to maintain their distinct culture and ways, or to change their distinct culture and ways to blend with the large society? What do you think is better for Canada/the United States that new immigrants be encouraged to maintain their distinct culture and ways, or to change their distinct culture and ways to blend with the large society?
Canada U.S.
Maintain 34 47
Change 61 51
No opinion 5 2

6. (To Canadians) If you had to describe Americans in one word, what would it be? (To Canadians) If you had to describe Americans in one word, what would it be? (To Canadians) If you had to describe Americans in one word, what would it be?
Snobs 11
Good 9
Friendly 8
Pigheaded 6
Aggressive 5

7. (To Americans) If you had to describe Canadians in one word, what would it be? (To Americans) If you had to describe Canadians in one word, what would it be? (To Americans) If you had to describe Canadians in one word, what would it be?
Friendly 28
Nice 9
Neighbors 6
Wonderful 5
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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue (cond)
8. Would you strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose Canada and the United States adopting common and identical policy on all matters relating to defense and foreign affairs? Would you strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose Canada and the United States adopting common and identical policy on all matters relating to defense and foreign affairs? Would you strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose Canada and the United States adopting common and identical policy on all matters relating to defense and foreign affairs?
Canada U.S.
Strongly oppose 24 4
Oppose 36 19
Support 33 58
Strongly support 5 15
No opinion 2 3

9. Would you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States with full congressional representation and rights of American citizenship? Would you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States with full congressional representation and rights of American citizenship? Would you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States with full congressional representation and rights of American citizenship?
Canada U.S.
Strongly oppose 54 10
Oppose 31 22
Favor 12 54
Strongly favor 2 12
No opinion 1 3
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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue (cond)
10. Are you aware that Canada and the United States recently singed a Free Trade Agreement? Are you aware that Canada and the United States recently singed a Free Trade Agreement? Are you aware that Canada and the United States recently singed a Free Trade Agreement?
Canada U.S.
Yes 97 57
No 3 43

11. (To Canadians) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal Canadian? (To Canadians) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal Canadian? (To Canadians) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal Canadian?
Tolerant 38
Independent-minded 27
Peaceful 26

12. (To Americans) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal American? (To Americans) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal American? (To Americans) Which one of these words, in your view, best describes the ideal American?
Independent-minded 52
Tolerant 21
Aggressive 12
Peaceful 12
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MACLEANS / DECIMA POLL, 1989 A North-South
Dialogue (cond)
13. (To Canadians) Who would you say is Canadas biggest trade partner? (To Canadians) Who would you say is Canadas biggest trade partner? (To Canadians) Who would you say is Canadas biggest trade partner?
United States 83
Japan 9

14. (To Americans) Who would you say is United States biggest trade partner? (To Americans) Who would you say is United States biggest trade partner? (To Americans) Who would you say is United States biggest trade partner?
Japan 69
Canada 12

15. (To Canadians) Would you like to live in the United States? (To Canadians) Would you like to live in the United States? (To Canadians) Would you like to live in the United States?
Yes 27
No 73

16. (To Americans) Would you like to live in the Canada? (To Americans) Would you like to live in the Canada? (To Americans) Would you like to live in the Canada?
Yes 42
No 56