A Critique of the Hartz Theory of Political Development as Applied to Canada

Abstract

The appearance of Louis Hartz's book, The Founding of New Societies, in 19641 not only marked the introduction of a broad-gauged theory of political development,2 but also provided the context for a specific debate on the nature of Canadian political development within the framework of the Hartz theory.3 It is the purpose of this paper to address the general question of the explanatory power of this theory in understanding political development, as well as to examine the particular Canadian debate through analysis of data generated from an empirical study of the inception of the Canadian Confederation.4 The key to understanding Hartz's theory of political development lies in his belief that the determinants of the political development of new (i.e., those founded by European immigration) are to be found in their European antecedents. Hartz argues specifically that development or change in the European context occurs through a process of interaction between various ideologies associated wtih particular groups in society, most importantly feudal groups and liberal groups. This interaction, according to Hartz, makes possible the development of socialism in Europe.5 Hartz's basic thesis concerning the development of societies, that is, those societies which are fragments or offshoots of European culture, is that the derivative cultures differ strikingly from the original culture. The original culture is marked by ideological competition; the derived is not. These pieces of the main take on a life of their own in isolation and their pattern of development is determined. But the field of choice is reopened once they rejoin that whole from which they came. This reunion has occurred in our time. The period of fragment evolution has ended.