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The Americanization of Canadian Political Science? The Doctoral Training of Canadian Political Science Faculty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2017

Quinn M. Albaugh*
Affiliation:
Princeton University
*
Department of Politics, 130 Corwin Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA, email: qalbaugh@princeton.edu

Abstract

Fifty years ago, Canadian political science (CPS) debated whether there was an “Americanization problem” in the discipline. Today, the idea does not have the same force. This article revisits the debate by focusing on one of the main points of concerns: the doctoral training of CPS faculty. The article presents an original dataset of tenure and tenure-track faculty at CPS departments. It then provides analysis of where these tenure and tenure-track faculty received their doctorates, by sub-field and rank, paying particular attention to the country of doctoral training. Unlike fifty years ago, Canadian-trained scholars form a much larger share of the professoriate. There is no evidence of a trend towards more American-trained scholars among recent hires of assistant professors. However, the results also suggest a continuing status hierarchy between the two countries. It concludes by arguing that CPS needs to be more reflective about its position within this status hierarchy.

Résumé

Il y a cinquante ans, la science politique canadienne (SPC) débattait de l'existence d'un « problème d'américanisation » dans la discipline. Aujourd'hui, l'idée n'a plus la même intensité. Cet article réactualise ce débat en se concentrant sur un des principaux points qui soulèvent des inquiétudes : la formation doctorale des professeurs de SPC. L'article présente un ensemble de données original sur les professeurs permanents et sur ceux qui occupent des postes menant à la permanence au sein des départements de SPC. Il analyse ensuite le lieu où ces professeurs permanents ou adjoints ont obtenu leur doctorat, par sous-domaine et grade, en accordant une attention particulière au pays de formation doctorale. À la différence d'il y a cinquante ans, les chercheurs formés au Canada représentent une plus grande partie du corps professoral. Rien n'indique qu'il y ait une tendance vers un plus grand nombre de chercheurs formés aux États-Unis parmi les embauches récentes de professeurs adjoints. Toutefois, les résultats suggèrent également la continuité d'une hiérarchie sociale entre les deux pays. Il conclut en soutenant que la SPC a besoin de mieux comprendre sa position à l'intérieur de cette hiérarchie.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 2017 

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