AP/POLS 3125 6.00

Canadian Political Economy

CROSSLISTED COURSES: AS POLS 3125 & AK SOCI 3125 & AP HREQ 3125

This course examines Canadian economic development and state formation in the context of the world market and, in particular, Canada's place within North America. The course also reviews some of the key writers that have debated Canada's economic position in the world. The first term develops some of the key concepts of political economy for the course; it also traces the economic development of Canada from colonialism to the new era of free trade. The second term covers key current issues in the political economy of Canada, such as neoliberalism, NAFTA and trade issues, and industrial and social policies. The course seeks to address the following questions: how and why did Canada emerge as a major capitalist country; what has been the influence of neoliberalism on Canada's recent trajectory of economic and social development; and what alternative future paths of development might be foreseen for Canada?