On 2 May 2011, Canadians watched as the Stephen Harper Conservatives won their first majority government. Jack Layton led the NDP to its best performance in history, and Michael Ignatieff and the federal Liberals had their worst showing to date. For most casual observers, this election marked a major shift in Canadian politics. In reality, the country’s political landscape and national party system had been changing for quite some time.

Parties, Elections, and the Future of Canadian Politics offers the first comprehensive account of political change in Canada over the past two decades. It explores developments in the political landscape from both historical and contemporary perspectives and speculates on the future of the national party system. By documenting how parties and voters responded to new challenges between 1993 and 2011, this volume enhances our understanding of one of the most tumultuous periods in Canadian political history.

Amanda Bittner is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University.

Royce Koop is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba

Contributors: Blake Andrew, Kelly Blidook, Matthew Byrne, R. Kenneth Carty, William Cross, Munro Eagles, Patrick Fournier, Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Allison Harell, Harold Jansen, Richard Johnston, L.A. (Lisa) Lambert, J. Scott Matthews, Anthony M. Sayers, Stuart Soroka, Russell Alan Williams, Lisa Young.

Parties, Elections, and the Future of Canadian Politics will be welcomed by many in the political science community. Examining a diverse array of topics, the volume aims to uncover evidence of change and continuity in Canadian politics over the past quarter century. Scholars will value its many insights, as will students in courses on Canadian electoral politics and political parties.