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Harperism

How Stephen Harper and his think tank colleagues have transformed Canada

by (author) Donald Gustein

narrator David Skulski

Publisher
Post Hypnotic Press
Initial publish date
Jan 2017
Category
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781927817803
    Publish Date
    Jan 2017
    List Price
    $20.00
  • Audio disc

    ISBN
    9781927817797
    Publish Date
    Jan 2017
    List Price
    $26.00
  • CD-Audio

    ISBN
    9781927817780
    Publish Date
    Jan 2017
    List Price
    $50.00

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Description

Margaret Thatcher transformed British political life forever. So did Ronald Reagan in the United States. Now Canada has experienced a similar, dramatic shift to a new kind of politics, which author Donald Gutstein terms Harperism. Among its key tenets: A weakened labour movement--and preferably the disappearance of unions--will contribute to Canada's economic prosperity Cutting back government scientific research and data collection will improve public policy-making Eliminating First Nations reserves by converting them to private property will improve conditions of life for aboriginal peoples Inequality of incomes and wealth is a good thing--and Canada needs more of it These and other essential elements of Harperism flow from neo-liberal economic theories propounded by the Austrian economist Friedrich von Hayek and his U.S. disciples. They inspired Thatcherism and Reaganism. Stephen Harper has taken this neo-liberalism much further in many key areas. As Donald Gutstein shows, Harper has successfully used a strategy of incremental change coupled with denial of the underlying neo-liberal analysis that explains these hard-to-understand measures.

The success of Harperism is no accident. Donald Gutstein documents the links between the politicians, think tanks, journalists, academics, and researchers who nurture and promote each other's neo-liberal ideas. They do so using funds provided by ultra-rich U.S. donors, by Canadian billionaires like Peter Munk, and by many big corporations--all of whom stand to gain from the ideas and policies the Harperites develop and push.

This book casts new light on the last ten years of Canadian politics. It documents the challenges that Harperism--with or without Stephen Harper--will continue to offer to the many Canadians who do not share this pro-market world view.

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