Grassroots Liberals—Organizing for Local and National Politics

The Liberal Party has fallen on hard times since 2006. Once
Canada’s natural governing party but now confined to the
opposition benches, it struggles to renew itself –
presumably without the support of the provincial-level Liberal
parties.

Based on personal observations in cross-country ridings and
interviews with grassroots activists, Grassroots Liberals
reveals that Liberals are negotiating the limitations and possibilities
of federalism and multi-level politics, on the one hand, and distinct,
geographically defined constituencies for provincial and federal
politics, on the other. Their efforts call into question the idea that
Canada has two distinct political spheres – the provincial
and the national. Although the Liberal Party, like other parties,
disassociated itself from its provincial cousins to rebuild itself in
the mid-twentieth century, grassroots Liberals and other partisans in
the constituencies continue to build political ties that encompass both
national and provincial politics.

This insider’s view of Liberal party politics in Canada
suggests that national parties can overcome the challenge of
multi-level politics, strengthen their ties to provincial politics, and
deepen their legitimacy by tapping the activism, energy, and support of
constituency associations and local campaigns.

Royce Koop has taught political science at several Canadian universities, where he specializes in Canadian politics, political parties, and the politics of multi-level states.