During the First World War, on December 17, 1917, Canadians elected a federal government that backed the decision of the government of Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden to conscript men to serve overseas in the armed forces. The election bitterly divided French speaking Canadians from English speaking Canadians, leaving scars
Continue readingAuthor: James Laxer
JAMES LAXER: Obstruction of Justice Under Wraps: the Dred Scott Case
U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly tweets that he is the victim of a “witch hunt”. Special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting an investigation into the Trump administration’s dealings with Russia and he may be investigating whether the president hnmself has obstructed justice. If Mueller concludes that Trump is guilty of
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: TRUMP-BANNON NEW GLOBAL ORDER: LEAGUE OF THE THREE EMPIRES
U.S. President Donald Trump is thin-skinned, narcissistic and obsesses over peripheral matters to a shocking extent. There is method in his madness, however. Together with his alter ego and chief advisor Steve Bannon, Trump has conceived a new world order that is deeply at odds with the prevailing American global
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: TRUMP-BANNON NEW GLOBAL ORDER: LEAGUE OF THE THREE EMPIRES
U.S. President Donald Trump is thin-skinned, narcissistic and obsesses over peripheral matters to a shocking extent. There is method in his madness, however. Together with his alter ego and chief advisor Steve Bannon, Trump has conceived a new world order that is deeply at odds with the prevailing American global
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The Canadian Choice: Fundamental Change or Hard Right Populism
In the era of Brexit and Trump, Canadians face an increasingly clear choice between fundamental change and hard right populism. Canada is one of the major countries in the West where the political centre has held, much to the benefit of Canadians. But the same forces that have driven the
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The Canadian Choice: Fundamental Change or Hard Right Populism
In the era of Brexit and Trump, Canadians face an increasingly clear choice between fundamental change and hard right populism. Canada is one of the major countries in the West where the political centre has held, much to the benefit of Canadians. But the same forces that have driven the
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: America: En Route from Republic to Post Democratic Empire
With the election of Donald Trump as President, the United States has taken another major step from a Republic to an Empire ruled by those who would be Caesars. The American republic was born in a struggle against imperial rule from across the sea. Its leaders—who were soiled by the
Continue readingJames Laxer: AMERICA: FROM REPUBLICANISM TO CAESARISM
With the election of Donald Trump as President, the United States has taken another major step from Republicanism to Caesarism. The American republic was born in a struggle against imperial rule from across the sea. Its leaders—who were soiled by the racism and brutality of slavery—nonetheless counted themselves children of
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The Liberals: The Natural Governing Party Returns Under Justin Trudeau
Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings in Quebec, the federal Liberal Party failed to win a majority of seats in Quebec in any subsequent election, until 2015. Contrast those decades with the era from 1896 to 1984. In 1896, Liberal leader Wilfrid Laurier led
Continue readingJames Laxer: The Liberals: The Natural Governing Party Returns Under Justin Trudeau
Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings in Quebec, the federal Liberal Party failed to win a majority of seats in Quebec in any subsequent election, until 2015. Contrast those decades with the era from 1896 to 1984. In 1896, Liberal leader Wilfrid Laurier led
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The Liberals: From Natural Governing Party to an Uncertain Future, 1984 to 2012
Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings in Quebec, the federal Liberal Party has failed to win a majority of seats in Quebec in any subsequent election, although they came close in 2000. Contrast the last three decades with the era from 1896
Continue readingThe Liberals: From Natural Governing Party to an Uncertain Future, 1984 to 2012
Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings in Quebec, the federal Liberal Party has failed to win a majority of seats in Quebec in any subsequent election, although they came close in 2000. Contrast the last three decades with the era from 1896
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The NDP: The Road Travelled from 2006 to 2012
On election night in January 2006, Jack Layton declared that Canadians had “voted out of hope for change” and expressed the conviction that the NDP caucus, 29 MPs as compared with 19 in 2004, would help place working people and seniors “at the front of the line” where they belong.
Continue readingThe NDP: The Road Travelled from 2006 to 2012
On election night in January 2006, Jack Layton declared that Canadians had “voted out of hope for change” and expressed the conviction that the NDP caucus, 29 MPs as compared with 19 in 2004, would help place working people and seniors “at the front of the line” where they belong.
Continue readingJAMES LAXER: The Remaking of Canadian Conservatism: 1988 to 2012
Brian Mulroney’s success in leading the Progressive Conservative Party to a second majority victory in the general election of 1988 was the last hurrah of the old Conservative Party, the party whose lineage extended back to the great days of the Liberal Conservatives of the 19th century, under the leadership
Continue readingThe Remaking of Canadian Conservatism: 1988 to 2012
Brian Mulroney’s success in leading the Progressive Conservative Party to a second majority victory in the general election of 1988 was the last hurrah of the old Conservative Party, the party whose lineage extended back to the great days of the Liberal Conservatives of the 19th century, under the leadership
Continue readingJames Laxer: The Liberals: From Natural Governing Party to an Uncertain Future, 1984 to 2012
Since 1984, when Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives won a large majority of federal ridings in Quebec, the federal Liberal Party has failed to win a majority of seats in Quebec in any subsequent election, although they came close in 2000. Contrast the last three decades with the era from 1896
Continue readingJames Laxer: The NDP: The Road Travelled from 2006 to 2012
On election night in January 2006, Jack Layton declared that Canadians had “voted out of hope for change” and expressed the conviction that the NDP caucus, 29 MPs as compared with 19 in 2004, would help place working people and seniors “at the front of the line” where they belong.
Continue readingJames Laxer: The Remaking of Canadian Conservatism: 1988 to 2012
Brian Mulroney’s success in leading the Progressive Conservative Party to a second majority victory in the general election of 1988 was the last hurrah of the old Conservative Party, the party whose lineage extended back to the great days of the Liberal Conservatives of the 19th century, under the leadership
Continue readingCanadian Dimension Feed: Tom Mulcair: For Sure
First, with all due respect to party elders, the NDP has been moving to the centre for decades, most rapidly over the last six or seven years. The idea that we must come together to protect threatened NDP values from Tom Mulcair is a bit rich. I’ve looked at the
Continue reading