Roasting Chestnuts: The Mythology of Maritime Political Culture

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UBC Press, Nov 1, 1994 - Political Science - 203 pages
Roasting Chestnuts: The Mythology of Maritime Political Culture is a book about outdated political stereotypes. The Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia are often regarded as pre-modern hinterland in which corrupt practices and traditional loyalties continue to predominate. While this depiction of Maritime political life may, at one time, have been largely accurate, this is no longer the case. Employing a variety of indicators, this book argues that a new set of political images is needed to capture Maritime political reality today. What emerges from the analysis is a picture of Maritime politics which no longer differs markedly from that which exists in the rest of Canada. Maritimers no longer exhibit remarkably low levels of political trust and efficacy, nor is there a regional political culture which transcends provincial boundaries. In fact, Maritime political elites have been innovators, providing radical departures from Canadian political norms. A unique and innovative study, Roasting Chestnuts seeks to demystify Maritime politics and expose the flimsy basis for many of the region's lasting political stereotypes.
 

Contents

The Nova ScotiaNew Brunswick
23
The NDP in the Maritimes
36
Petty Electoral Corruption on Prince Edward
64
Not a Case
73
The Legacy of the United Empire
89
Prince Edward Island Joins
114
The Nova Scotia Liberals
135
Conclusion
155
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About the author (1994)

Ian Stewart is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Acadia University.

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