The Vertical Mosaic: An Analysis of Social Class and Power in Canada

by John Porter

This book looks at two important aspects in Canadian its class structure and the composition of its elites or power holding groups. A recurring theme in the analysis of both class and elite groups is that Canada has found itself in the middle of the twentieth century with inadequate institutional arrangements for the industrial society it has become. Its educational systems have failed to provide the necessary skills which in large measure have been recruited through immigration. Its elites have been drawn largely from middle and upper class "British charter groups." The author further submits that the strong emphasis in the Canadian value system on regionalism and ethnic differentiation has resulted in the fragmentation of the society, particularly at the political level, and lef tit incapable of dealing with some of its major problems as an industrial society. Although this is a sociological study in which evidence in related to social theory, the author has tried to avoid technical terms, and this, together with the particular relevance at the present time of a discussion of the nature of Canadian society, will make this book interesting to laymen as well as specialists.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada

626 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1965

Reviews

[Mascifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exemplifies the hard limit to practically applying weberian class analysis. Still it would be nice if books like this remained capable of topping best-seller lists in Canada.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Read for my 2022 political sociology comprehensive exams*
2.5. I FINALLY finished this behemoth of a book. I recognize that it's a pretty foundational text in Canadian political sociology, but it was not a very enjoyable read. Useful, yes, although I disagreed with some of the authors conclusions and definitely felt like some of it was outdated. Though it was interesting to see how some things changed and others very much have not in Canadian society since the writing of this in the 60s.

[Czarny Pies · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a classic of its time. It showed that Canada was a class society. The universities, business, political parties, the legal profession,government bureaucracies, the accounting profession, the cultural organizations and most other elites in Canada were dominated by Anglo-Saxon protestants. Thus the book gave license to socialists to claim that Canada was a country with an unjust class system while non-Wasps could claim that they were frozen out of positions of power.

While there was certainly some truth to what John Porter had to say he may have overstated the his case. Conservatives would have said that he was exaggerating while socialists would have said that the situation was worse.

In the fifty years that have passed since this book was published, Canada has changed. The WASPs in Canada have merged with the Canadians of Central and Southern European descent Canadians of Asian descent are in the process of disappearing into the same melting pot. Canada is still far from perfect but it is unquestionably a more inclusive and open society than it was in 1960. The Vertical Mosaic however still has value for the thoroughness with which it describes what once was.