Opinion Structure of Party Activists

The Reform Party of Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID6239925
AuthorsKeith Archer (University of Calgary), Faron Ellis (University of Calgary)
Year1994
Volume27
Issue2
Pages277-308
Publication date1994-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCanadian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-4239 • E-ISSN: 1744-9324
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008423900017364
OpenAlexW2150405511
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited20

This article provides a systematic examination of the social bases and ideological and policy orientations of the Reform party of Canada through a study of the attitudes of delegates attending its 1992 national assembly. We identify the core political attitudes of Reform activists, and examine whether their positions on policy matters are distinctive and whether they are characterized by internal cohesion or division. We then examine the party's mobilization strategy to determine the extent to which this strategy produces systematic cleavages among party activists. Our analysis reveals that Reform promotes a distinctive position on a number of salient political issues. However, we also challenge the view that Reform activists are united by a unidimensional right-wing ideology. We conclude by discussing the impact of party mobilization on future divisions within the party

Cohesion (chemistry · Communism · Ideology · Mobilization · Party platform · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Realigning election · Salient · Socialism · Sociology · Canadian Identity and History · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Public Administration