Date of Award

1993

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Political Science

Keywords

Political Science, General.

Supervisor

Wagenberg, R. H.,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The Business Council on National Issues has been the subject of recent scrutiny provided by David Langille, Linda McQuaig, Maude Barlow. While emanating from diverse experiences, (the first, an academic; the second, a member of media; and the latter, claiming to represent the nationalist voice), their hypotheses are quite similar. That is, the Business Council wields extraordinary ability to influence the direction of Canadian macroeconomic strategy. Recent initiatives, such as bilateral free trade with the United States, competition policy reform and fiscal restraint are portrayed as the sole product of the BCNI influence. The Canadian state, in this regard, is presented as a convenient courier of the Council's desires. Containing all of the principal elements of dominant class analysis, this hypothesis is presented as the definitive means to comprehend the activities of the Business Council. This thesis challenges the confines of dominant class doctrine. Chapter One introduces the theoretical foundation employed in the paper. Such political doctrines as pluralism, statism, political economy and dominant class theory establish the means in which to define the relationship between business and government in liberal democratic societies. The Business Council remains an enigmatic entity. The recent publications of Langille, Barlow and McQuaig have unspecifically portrayed the BCNI as the monolithic representative of capital. Chapter Two provides some insight into the leadership, organization structure and membership profile of this organization. Chapters Three, Four, and Five examine the impact of the BCNI on Canadian macroeconomic environment. Recent economic ventures such as free trade, competition policy reform and fiscal restraint are used to discern the influence exercised by the Business Council on National Issues. Chapter Six makes some concluding remarks concerning the utility of political hypotheses to comprehend the relationship between the business community and the Canadian state. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of History, Philosophy, and Political Science. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1993 .L62. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 33-04, page: 1144. Adviser: R. H. Wagenberg. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1993.

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