One of the most peculiar features of municipal politics in Canada is how frequently local politicians, activists, and scholars disagree about how to describe the municipal arena. For some, municipal politics is distinct from other levels of government, a world of non-ideological elections, pragmatic and technical policymaking, and issue-by-issue policy coalitions. Others argue that municipal politics is similar to politics at other scales, with persistent axes of political disagreement and a recognizable “left” and “right.” This recurring debate features prominently in municipal election campaigns across Canada.

In Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics, Jack Lucas investigates municipal ideology in Canada. Using data from original surveys of municipal politicians and the Canadian public, the book reveals how municipal politics is clearly structured by left-right ideology. It shows that municipal politicians represent their constituents’ ideological preferences quite well: they understand their constituents’ ideological perspectives, they align with their constituents’ preferences, and they are elected in part because of their ideological alignment with voters.

A lively and accessible study, Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics will appeal to readers interested in municipal politics, political ideology, and political representation.

Investigating ideological debates between "left" and "right," this book reveals how municipal policy attitudes and election outcomes are structured across Canada.

List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
Part I: Ideological Preferences
2. Ideological Policy Preferences among Municipal Politicians
3. Ideological Policy Preferences among Municipal Residents
4. The Ideological Structure of Municipal Non-ideology
Part II: Ideological Representation
5. Do Politicians Agree with Their Constituents?
6. Do Politicians Know Their Constituents?
7. Ideology in Municipal Elections
8. Conclusion

Appendices
Bibliography
Index

“Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics is an accessible as well as rigorous contribution to political science. It will appeal to researchers, practitioners, and anyone interested in the role of ideology in political representation and decision-making.”“Combining accessibility and state-of-the-art analysis, Jack Lucas debunks the conventional view that Canadian municipal politics is non-ideological. Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics is a pathbreaking book and essential reading for scholars of local politics and representation.”“Jack Lucas takes the study of local democracy to a new level. His analytical skill will capture the attention of those not normally drawn to local politics. Most importantly, his work shows that local decisions are indeed political.”“With rigour as well as practical insights, Jack Lucas has produced an important work on municipal government in Canada, one that is particularly timely as provincial governments ponder adding even more partisanship to municipal elections.”