Dynasties and Interludes: Past and Present in Canadian Electoral Politics

An overview of successive Canadian governments, from Confederation to the present, placed in the historical context of electoral politics.

Dynasties and Interludes provides a comprehensive and unique overview of elections and voting in Canada from Confederation to the most recent federal elections. Its principal argument is that the Canadian political landscape has consisted of substantial periods of governance by one political party and/or leader (dynasties), often punctuated by short, sharp disruptions brought about by the sudden rise of new parties, leaders, or social movements (interludes).

This revised and updated third edition includes analyses of elections during the Harper era (2006, 2008, 2011) and that of Justin Trudeau (2015, 2019, 2021), as well as an analysis of the dramatic 2025 election and its implications for the future of Canadian politics under the minority government of Mark Carney.