Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada

by Alex Marland

Canadians often see politicians as trained seals who vote on command and repeat robotic talking points. Politicians are torn by dilemmas of loyalty to party versus loyalty to voters. The reality is more complex, especially in a world where a public slip-up can spell the end of a political career. Party Discipline in Canada  examines the hidden ways that political parties exert control over elected members of Canadian legislatures. Drawing on extensive interviews with politicians and staffers across the country, award-winning author Alex Marland explains why Members of Parliament and provincial politicians toe the party line. He explores the phenomenon of politicians as brand ambassadors, the role of the party whip, and the inner workings of legislatures. He recounts stories from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s drive for caucus cohesion in the 1980s through to the turmoil that the SNC-Lavalin crisis wrought on Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party in 2019. From caucus meetings to vote instructions, Marland exposes how democracy works in our age of instant communication and increasing polarization. This book conclusively demonstrates that party loyalty usually wins out in Canada. Filled with political tips,  Whipped  is a must-read for anyone interested in the real world of Canadian politics. This work will have broad appeal for political scientists, politicians, and political staffers, as well as for students, journalists, and anyone with an interest in the workings of Canadian politics.

Genres: Politics, Canada, Nonfiction

370 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2020

Reviews

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insight into "The Way It Works" in Ottawa and other Canadian legislatures. If any one is wondering why talented, effective people are leaving politics or deciding not to run in the first place, this book has some answers.

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre très complet qui plonge profondément et rapidement dans un monde politique invisible pour la majorité. On obtient une explication poussée de la discipline par le parti politique et ses conséquences à chaque niveau du pouvoir parlementaire. Lourd si on est nouveau en matière du fonctionnement d'un gouvernement.

[David Akin]

Pretty much confirms everything in my experience as a Parliament Hill reporter these last 15 years!

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting set of books for the shelf:

Political Marketing in Canada (2012)
Political Communication in Canada: Meet the Press and Tweet the Rest (2014)
Brand Command: Canadian Politics and Democracy in the Age of Message Control (2016)
Permanent Campaigning in Canada (2017)
Political Elites in Canada: Power and Influence in Instantaneous Times (2018)
Inside the Campaign: Managing Elections in Canada (2020)
Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada (2020)

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading in civics class and required debate material elsewhere. A broad, well-researched discussion of the pressures, influences, and environment in which party cohesion and discipline operate in Canada. Marland isn't blind to the valuable objectives parties serve, neither is he desperate to salvage a pristine impression of democratic process. WYSIWYG. The questions that follow are: how much play is left for members (addressed); and is WYG WWW (for discussion).

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative read for anyone wanting a better understanding of the internal workings of politics in Canada. Highly recommended for new MPs/MPPs/MLAs or anyone considering entering the political fray in Canada.

[Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good analysis of the threat to democracy that whipped voting represents.