Canada's Political Economy Overview

Oct 12, 2024

Lecture Notes: A Beginner's Guide to Canada - Week 4

Administrative Details

  • Exam Information
    • First test on Friday, October 6th.
    • Available from 6 AM, duration: 1 hour.
    • Covers material from Weeks 1 to 4.
    • Contains 60 questions.
    • Complete on OWL platform.
    • No aids allowed.

Lecture Topic: Canada's Political Economy

  • Focus on Harold Innes and the development of the Staples Theory.

Review from Last Week

  • Canadian Political System
    • Canada's democracy scores highly globally.
    • Influences from both the United Kingdom (Westminster system) and United States (federalism).
    • Issues identified:
      • Concentration of Power: Power centralized in the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and Supreme Court judges.
      • Decline in Political Participation: Decreasing voter turnout and engagement in formal political processes.
      • Rising political protests and declining confidence in political leaders, e.g., PM Trudeau's confrontation with protesters post-COVID.

Introduction to Political Economy

  • Definition: The intersection of politics and economics and its impact on societal structures.
  • Relevance: Controls distribution of power and wealth, affecting societal inequality and political function.
  • Field of Study: Courses available, e.g., taught by Professor Adam Harms.

Staples Theory

  • Originator: Harold Innes, Canadian political scientist.
  • Concept: Describes Canada's economy as based on staples, crucial for understanding political and economic systems.
  • Influence on Canadian Life: Examines development and current state of Canadian society.

Upcoming

  • Examination of Staples Economy and its effects on Canadian life historically and presently.