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Nova Scotia Politics: Clientelism and John Savage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2006

Jeffrey MacLeod
Jeffrey MacLeod
Affiliation:
Mount Saint Vincent University
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Abstract

Abstract. This paper is a test of clientelism as an explanatory framework for the challenges faced by the Nova Scotia Liberal government led by Dr. John Savage, 1993–1997. Clientelism, as an explanatory theoretical framework, is a useful tool for interpreting the political events that drove Premier Savage from office only four years after leading his party to a significant majority in the Nova Scotia legislature. The hypothesis presented is that Nova Scotia's political culture supports an environment in which clientelism flourishes. Since the clientelistic dyadic relationship and networks are deeply rooted in the cultural mores of Nova Scotia, they cannot be easily challenged and dismantled by any single political actor or government. Therefore, the Savage government's attempt to capsize this long-established cultural practice is advanced as the prime reason for its failure to endure as a viable administration.

Résumé. Cette communication est un test de clientélisme qui tente d'expliquer le cadre dans lequel s'inscrivent les défis auxquels a été confronté le gouvernement libéral de Nouvelle-Écosse mené par le Dr John Savage de 1993 à 1997. Le clientélisme, en tant que cadre théorique explicatif, est un outil utile qui permet d'interpréter les événements politiques qui ont fait perdre son poste de Premier Ministre au Dr Savage quatre ans seulement après qu'il ait mené son parti vers une majorité significative à l'assemblée législative de Nouvelle-Écosse. En fin de compte, l'hypothèse est que la culture politique de Nouvelle-Écosse favorise un environnement dans lequel le clientélisme est florissant. Du fait que la relation dyadique clientéliste et les réseaux sont profondément ancrés dans les traditions culturelles de Nouvelle-Écosse, il est peu probable qu'un acteur unique ou un simple gouvernement puisse facilement les mettre au défi et les démanteler. En conséquence, nous suggérons que la tentative du gouvernement Savage de renverser cette pratique culturelle de longue date est la raison principale pour laquelle ce gouvernement n'a pas réussi à survivre en tant qu'administration.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , September 2006 , pp. 553 - 570
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

I am thankful for the guidance and support I received for this project, particularly from Dr. A.K. MacDougall, University of Western Ontario, Dr. Michael MacMillan, Mount Saint Vincent University and the late Dr. John Savage. This paper is a revised and abridged version of research conducted between 2000 and 2002 for my doctoral dissertation.

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