Political opinions are changing in Canada; many reasons can account for this, including regionalism. Regionalism can be used to explain regional differences and voter outcome, making it a powerful political tool in Canada. In this paper, regionalism will be described as an explanatory variable under the conditions of the “composition effect" and the “context effect,” building on the ideas of Cochrane and Perrella (2012). As well, the emergences of indifferent “regional political cultures” will be examined (Henderson and Ailsa 2004), and the context effect will be applied to voter dissatisfaction. Finally, the risk of regional diversity and multiculturalism being weakened will be considered. The composition effect will be looked at on its
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Regionalism is a complex ideology, as it is dependent on the definition of region. Defining region has become a daunting task by many in the political science community. For this paper, Cochrane and Perrella’s (2012) definition of region “as the physical space surrounding an individual,” and regionalism “as an affective attachment to the people, places and institutions within a geographic area,” will be used. By defining in such a way, Cochrane and Perrella account for the possibility of change over time and space. As mentioned earlier, regionalism can be an explanatory variable under the “composition effect” and/or “context effect.” The authors of “Regions, Regionalism and Regional differences in Canada,” voiced the importance that; by merely describing regionalism, one is unable to explain regional differences (Cochrane and Perrella 2012), and therefore regionalism can not be seen as a political …show more content…
Homogenization of the Canadian state would merge political opinions as well as it would be detrimental to the Canadian national identity. Growing fears come from: unease about Islam and national security, changing values and cultures, and economic distribution potentially leading to a “Progressive’s Dilemma” in Canada (Banting 2010). The “progressive’s dilemma” is a referral to the fear that many progressives have where “they face a trade-off between support for multiculturalism on one hand and support for redistribution on the other,” (Banter 2010). Fortunately, Canada is greatly affected by the composition effect. Virtually every individual (or their ancestors) in Canada immigrated at one point. This contributes to the relative approval and support for immigration. Banting (2010) describes a survey on “Attitudes to Immigration and Immigrants.” The survey (conducted in 2003) displays that “Canadians are much more likely to believe that immigrant are good for the economy, much less likely to believe that immigrants cause crime and (are) much less committed to reducing immigration” (Banting 2010). Therefore, in 2003, there was “little evidence of a progressive’s dilemma in Canada,” (Banting 2010). Although, with recent uncertainty
Regionalism is a complex ideology, as it is dependent on the definition of region. Defining region has become a daunting task by many in the political science community. For this paper, Cochrane and Perrella’s (2012) definition of region “as the physical space surrounding an individual,” and regionalism “as an affective attachment to the people, places and institutions within a geographic area,” will be used. By defining in such a way, Cochrane and Perrella account for the possibility of change over time and space. As mentioned earlier, regionalism can be an explanatory variable under the “composition effect” and/or “context effect.” The authors of “Regions, Regionalism and Regional differences in Canada,” voiced the importance that; by merely describing regionalism, one is unable to explain regional differences (Cochrane and Perrella 2012), and therefore regionalism can not be seen as a political …show more content…
Homogenization of the Canadian state would merge political opinions as well as it would be detrimental to the Canadian national identity. Growing fears come from: unease about Islam and national security, changing values and cultures, and economic distribution potentially leading to a “Progressive’s Dilemma” in Canada (Banting 2010). The “progressive’s dilemma” is a referral to the fear that many progressives have where “they face a trade-off between support for multiculturalism on one hand and support for redistribution on the other,” (Banter 2010). Fortunately, Canada is greatly affected by the composition effect. Virtually every individual (or their ancestors) in Canada immigrated at one point. This contributes to the relative approval and support for immigration. Banting (2010) describes a survey on “Attitudes to Immigration and Immigrants.” The survey (conducted in 2003) displays that “Canadians are much more likely to believe that immigrant are good for the economy, much less likely to believe that immigrants cause crime and (are) much less committed to reducing immigration” (Banting 2010). Therefore, in 2003, there was “little evidence of a progressive’s dilemma in Canada,” (Banting 2010). Although, with recent uncertainty