Foundations of Canadian Political Behaviour: Stability and Change in the Twenty-First Century

Foundations of Canadian Political Behaviour aims to place contemporary Canadian electoral politics in comparative perspective, particularly with respect to its peers among the established democracies of western Europe and North America. The book pays tribute to political scientist Richard Johnston and his diverse contributions to the study of Canadian politics and electoral politics in general.

Presenting original empirical research by leading Canadian and international scholars, the volume is organized around the three themes that animate Johnston’s nearly five decades of scholarship: the impact of electoral and party systems on political conflict, change and persistence in the social foundations of party competition, and the role of election campaigns in voting behaviour. Chapters utilize diverse approaches, including quantitative analysis of survey data and electoral statistics, experimentation, systematic analysis of media content, historical narrative, and critical conceptual analyses. The book is anchored in general theoretical concerns; half of the chapters centre on Canadian cases, while half highlight key comparators including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Amanda Bittner is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.


J. Scott Matthews is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.


Stuart Soroka is a professor in the Departments of Communication and Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles.