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Bezig met laden... The Big Shift: The Seismic Change in Canadian Politics, Business, and Culture and What It Means for Our Futuredoor Darrell Bricker, John Ibbitson
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 Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek.  LynnB | Mar 4, 2014 |  geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
For almost its entire history, Canada has been run by the political, media and business elites of Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. But in the past few years, these groups have lost their power--and most of them still do not realize it's gone. The Laurentian Consensus, the term John Ibbitson has coined for the dusty liberal elite, has been replaced by a new, powerful coalition based in the West and supported by immigrant voters in Ontario. How did this happen? Most people are unaware that the keystone economic and political drivers of this country are now Western Canada and immigrants from China, India and other Asian countries. Politicians and businesspeople have underestimated how conservative these newcomers are making our country. Canada, with its ever-evolving economy and fluid demographic base, has become divorced from the traditions of its past and is moving in an entirely new direction. In The Big Shift, Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argue that one of the world's most consensual countries is becoming polarized, exhibiting stark differences between East and West, cities and suburbs, Canadianborn citizens and immigrants. The winners--in both politics and business-- will be those who can capitalize on the tremendous changes that the Big Shift will bring. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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 Google Books — Bezig met laden...GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)320.971Social sciences Political Science Political Science Political situation and conditions North America CanadaLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde: (3.25)
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The authors argue that a new coalition of immigrant and western Canadian voters has emerged -- a coalition they believe will be very long-lasting (if not permanent). Stephen Harper and his Conservative party understand this shift and have used it to reframe the turf on which elections are fought. The Liberal party hasn't caught up with the new reality yet.
The book has many flaws:
1. A "seismic" shift. Really? What about other major shifts such as the 1992 election that saw the Conservatives reduced to two seats? The NDP as Official Opposition? Shifts aren't unusual in a democracy -- legislation and policy choices are always subject to change.
2. An irreversible change. Really? I think Governments are more often voted out of office than into it. After several years in power, any party becomes victim of a perceived need for a change.
3. Lack of definition or context. Poll results are presented without data on how the polls were structured, sample size, etc. The old "Laurentian elite" shifted out of power by the new coalition isn't defined.
In spite of these criticisms, I enjoyed the book because it is topical and written in an engaging style. It certainly provided lots of fodder for great conversations with others who've read it. (