Daily Plebiscite

From the mid-1960s through the mid-1990s, Canada was in a state of ongoing political crisis. Within this thirty-year period, David R. Cameron was an active participant and observer of Canada’s crisis of national unity. As a political scientist and former senior public servant, Cameron remains one of the most astute and respected analysts of Canadian federalism. This volume assembles some of Cameron’s best works on federalism, nationalism, and the constitution, including journal articles, book chapters, speeches, newspaper op-eds, and unpublished opinion pieces spanning nearly fifty years of engagement. In addition, The Daily Plebiscite includes a conversation between Cameron and Robert C. Vipond on the "long decade" of the 1980s in Canadian constitutional politics, a brief history of the mega-constitutional era, and concluding reflections on the broader lessons that other divided societies might take from the Canadian experience.Providing rich fare for anyone interested in questions of federalism, nationalism, and constitutionalism, The Daily Plebiscite offers an informed, insider’s perspective on the national unity question and considers the challenges faced by a federal, multinational, and multicultural country like Canada.

"The Daily Plebiscite is an absolutely fascinating journey through David R. Cameron's five decades of intellectual engagement with Canadian constitutional politics, Canadian federalism, and Quebec politics, both as an academic and as a key participant in Canada's 'mega-constitutional era.' A must-read for anyone interested in Canada's past and ongoing constitutional and political challenges." - Luc Turgeon, Associate Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, "As a reflection on decades of constitutional conflict that threatened to tear Canada apart, The Daily Plebiscite is a profound book for Canadian policy makers and scholars of federalism." - Liesbet Hooghe, W.R Kenan Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Research Professor, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Florence, "David R. Cameron is known in Canada and around the world as a scholar, advisor, and practitioner - for good reason. He is a pragmatic, thoughtful, inquisitive, kind, and deeply tolerant man. Federalism and pluralism are lucky to have such a person in their corner. Robert C. Vipond has done a great job in pulling this book together." - Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, "This collection offers a unique snapshot of Canadian federalism at work. The broad time span covered by these essays provides an unusual vantage point on the major issues and evolving problems of Canadian democracy. The Daily Plebiscite is essential reading for federalism scholars and practitioners as well as anyone wanting to know how a federation works and how democracy changes over time." - Violeta Ruiz Almendral, Professor of Financial and Tax Law, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

David R. Cameron is a professor of Political Science and Special Advisor to the President and Provost at the University of Toronto. Robert C. Vipond is a professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto.