While western regional alienation has been the subject of much scholarly and public debate
in Canada, we still know relatively little about the factors driving the phenomenon. Relying upon
survey data collected in the 1997 Canadian Election Study (CES), this study attempts to
substantively quantify western regional alienation and identify its correlates. Using the existing
literature as a starting point, the study examines how western regionalism and political culture are
typically conceptualized and identifies several factors commonly said to propel regional unrest and
western 'distinctiveness.' Regression analysis is used to systematically test the accuracy of existing
theories concerning western regional alienation. The study contends that while the four western
provinces do not hold a monopoly on feelings of regional alienation, levels of unrest are indeed
higher in the West than in other parts of the country. Regional alienation is also distinguished from
more general understandings of political apathy or cynicism. Finally, with respect to the factors said
to propel regional unrest, antipathy towards Quebec and Outgroups are shown to be the most
important predictors or regional alienation - while attitudes concerning the economy, populism,
social programs, law and order and continentalism have a weaker effect. However, even after
controlling for these factors, significant regional differences remain. Thus, other factors - as-of-yet
unaccounted for - must also play a role.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/12192 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Portengen, Michael Bernard |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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