Canada's political culture, which is the combination of political attitudes held by its citizens, is in trouble.
For one, our political culture is characterized by elitism. Small groups of people wielding considerable power does not bode well for a democracy of the people.
For example, the government can override certain protections in the Charter of rights and freedoms. The government can circumvent existing laws or pass new regulations to protect itself for its own wrongdoing. Power like this only happens in a political system where influence in centralised and accepted as legitimate by most people-in a word elitism.
Elitism is also noted in our continuing allegience to antiquated monarchial customs and symbolic but powerless figures.
The lack of a revolution in the country has also contributed to continuing elitist strength.
Even Confederation was elite in nature. The Fathers of Confederation were not ardent believers in democracy. Confederation was more about stopping the democratic ideal from spreading from the U.S. The construction of the political system-highly centralized-ensured that few citizens participated.
Confederation was more of a counter revolution that sought to preserve the powers of the ruling elite.
It's obvious that Canadians possess a weak national identity. This in turn contributes to the preservation of elite ideas and values. The Canadian political culture comes from the British Parliamentary system.
"The effect of the British parliamentary system is to damp down the waves of public agitation."
-Tom Truman
For one, our political culture is characterized by elitism. Small groups of people wielding considerable power does not bode well for a democracy of the people.
For example, the government can override certain protections in the Charter of rights and freedoms. The government can circumvent existing laws or pass new regulations to protect itself for its own wrongdoing. Power like this only happens in a political system where influence in centralised and accepted as legitimate by most people-in a word elitism.
Elitism is also noted in our continuing allegience to antiquated monarchial customs and symbolic but powerless figures.
The lack of a revolution in the country has also contributed to continuing elitist strength.
Even Confederation was elite in nature. The Fathers of Confederation were not ardent believers in democracy. Confederation was more about stopping the democratic ideal from spreading from the U.S. The construction of the political system-highly centralized-ensured that few citizens participated.
Confederation was more of a counter revolution that sought to preserve the powers of the ruling elite.
It's obvious that Canadians possess a weak national identity. This in turn contributes to the preservation of elite ideas and values. The Canadian political culture comes from the British Parliamentary system.
"The effect of the British parliamentary system is to damp down the waves of public agitation."
-Tom Truman