Grassroots Liberals
Organizing for Local and National Politics
9780774820981
9780774820974
Distributed for University of British Columbia Press
Grassroots Liberals
Organizing for Local and National Politics
The Liberal Party has fallen on hard times since 2006. Once Canada’s governing party but now confined to the sidelines, it struggles to renew itself. Drawing on interviews and personal observations in cross-country ridings, Royce Koop reveals that although the federal Liberal Party disassociated itself from its provincial cousins to rebuild itself in the mid-twentieth century, grassroots Liberals in the constituencies are building bridges between the national party and the provinces. This insider’s view of party politics challenges the idea that Canada has two distinct political spheres – the provincial and the national – and suggests that national parties can overcome the challenges of multi-level politics by deepening ties with constituencies.

Table of Contents
Introduction
1 Multi-Level Politics and the Liberal Party
2 Grassroots Party Activists
3 Constituency Associations: Organization and Party Life in the Ridings
4 Local Campaigns and Grassroots Armies
5 Small Worlds: The Riding Context
6 Little Fiefdoms: MPs, MLAs, and Their Local Organizations
7 Conclusion: The Local Political Worlds of the Liberal Party
Appendices
References
Be the first to know
Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!