The Political Party in Canada

"Political parties exist at the centre of democratic politics, but where does power lie within them, and how is it exercised? "The Political Party in Canada" explores the inner workings of these complex organizations, disaggregating the composition and roles of party members and activists, candidates, local associations, donors, and central officials. Contemporary parties play a key role in recruiting and selecting candidates and leaders, waging election campaigns, and organizing legislatures. Drawing on a rich trove of data from the 2015 and 2019 federal elections, this comprehensive examination of Canadian party organizations explores a variety of party actors, from the local constituency office to party headquarters to Parliament Hill. The authors comb through interviews, surveys, financial and nomination reports, party websites and social media, candidate and MP biographies, and examine the career trajectories of political operatives. Their analysis reveals the composition, functions, activities, and power-sharing relationships that characterize Canadian parties, focusing not only on which groups are included in decision-making but also on what power and authority rests with each level of their parties/ respective structures. Basing its astute investigation on the themes of complexity, representation, and personalization, "The Political Party in Canada" opens a window on a fundamental institution that makes modern democracy possible."--