Abstract
Canada´s evolving party system has shifted the discursive, institutional, and legal frameworks for how party politics are performed in Canada. As a result, the dominant track record of the Liberal Party of Canada now faces several new challenges to its historical status as Canada´s natural governing party. The inability to successfully fundraise to set election issues within the guidelines of new legal regulations has weakened the Liberal Party´s ability to compete with the Conservatives. The current leader-driven model of cadre party politics has also put more emphasis on attracting peripheral voters, such as flexible partisans and dealigned voters, which makes one-party domination less likely. Furthermore, the Liberal Party has also faced recent loses to their core support, due to shifts in historical regional support, religious support, and the support of ethnic minorities.
Highlights
Canada’s evolving party system has shifted the discursive, institutional, and legal frameworks for how party politics are performed in Canada
The Liberal Party has always managed to ascend back to power soon after a defeat or scandal, which has historically been based on their strong ties with traditional cores of support and their ability to determine the “centre” of political debate
The Liberals recent failure to attain power is a sign of a long-term trend that will not end with a shift in Canadian values, but rather a gradual change in the overall political and legal framework
Summary
Canada’s evolving party system has shifted the discursive, institutional, and legal frameworks for how party politics are performed in Canada. The gradual evolution of a new hollowshell, leader-driven, media-centred party system has significantly decreased the likelihood that the Liberals, or any other party, can claim the status of being Canada’s “natural governing party.” Changing institutional and legal framework throughout the latter part of the 20th century and early 21st century, such as the loss of elite corporate fundraising, the increasing importance of leadership appeal to flexible and durable partisans, and the shifting of traditional bases of
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