Political scientists have traditionally examined the democraticprocess at the macro level. With its unique micro-level focus,Parties, Candidates, and Constituency Campaigns in CanadianElections provides the first systematic analysis of the localconstituency campaigns that are the basis of elections and democracy inCanada.

By taking a detailed look at campaigns in seven B.C. ridings duringthe 1988 “free-trade” election -- the last under the oldthree-party system -- Anthony Sayers develops a typology of candidatesand campaigns. The dynamics of local associations, nominations, andcampaigns, including those of former prime minister Kim Campbell andNew Democrat Svend Robinson, as well as key strategic events and therole of the media, are reconstructed from interviews with candidates,campaign managers, party strategists, volunteers, and journalists. The1993 and 1997 elections are then invoked to show that the insightsdrawn about the nature of constituency politics remain relevant to thenew party system.

This important contribution to the study of Canadian electionsforcefully argues that knowledge of the dynamics at the local level isessential to a full understanding of Canadian polity, its underlyingsocial basis, and the factors that determine successful electioncampaigns. As such, Parties, Candidates, and Constituency Campaignsin Canadian Elections will intrigue not only political scientistsand students of Canadian politics but also election candidates andparty strategists.