The Big Red Machine: How the Liberal Party Dominates Canadian Politics

In The Big Red Machine, astute Liberal observer Stephen Clarkson tells the story of the Liberal Party's performance in the last nine elections, providing essential historical context for each and offering incisive, behnd-the-scenes detail about how the party has planned, changed, and executed its successful electoral strategies. Arguing that the Liberal Party has opportunistically straddled the political centre since Sir John A. Macdonald--leaning left or moving right and as circumstances required--Clarkson also shows that the party's grip on power is becoming increasingly uncertain, having lost its appeal not just in the West, but now in Quebec. Its campaigns now reflect the splintering of the party system and the integration of Canada into the global economy.

An ideal political primer, deftly written and filled with a wealth of fact and analysis, The Big Red Machine is a fascinating history of Liberal pragmatism, communication tactics, and dramatic changes in leadership style. "Even if the last century did not belong to Canada, Canada turns out to have belonged to the Liberal Party," Clarkson concludes. Although he forsees considerably less rosy prospects for the Grits in the years ahead, the "big red machine" remains a formidable political force.

Stephen Clarkson is the author of Trudeau and Our Times, Canada and the Reagan Challenge, and Uncle Sam and Us.