Alan Cairns
Encyclopedia
Hugh Alan Craig Cairns, (born March 2, 1930) is a Canadian
political science professor emeritus.
Born in Galt (now part of Cambridge, Ontario
), he received his BA in 1953 and his MA degree in 1957 from the University of Toronto
. In 1963, he obtained a D.Phil from St Antony's College, Oxford
. He was a member of the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia
from 1960 until his retirement in 1995 and served as head of the department from 1973 to 1980.
Cairns' most famous piece of writing on Canadian politics is likely his 1971 article "The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and its Critics" which discusses judicial activism
in Canada. It is often listed as one of the most-cited academic works concerned with the Canadian political system.
Cairns’ scholarship has explored a multitude of issues within Canadian political science, sparking decades of debate and refinement of his ideas. In reference to Cairn’s intellectual legacy, Gerald Kernerman and Philip Resnick state: “On a remarkably wide range of topics – from the regional impact of Canada’s electoral system, the role of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and the development of Canadian federalism to the ongoing efforts to constitutionally reshape the federation and the effects on minorities of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Cairns has initiated and shaped many of our most pivotal debates.” Cairns’ work focuses extensively on the question of citizenship in the Canadian federation, a theme important to a discussion of Indigenous rights
and citizenship. In addressing the situation facing Indigenous communities across Canada, Cairns acknowledges that there is a great challenge in speaking about a group to which one does not belong. He suggests that the present “discontents” between Indigenous peoples and the state are “largely due to the past silencing of Aboriginal voices. The resolution of this set of circumstances can only occur if we talk to each other in a way that both articulates our differences and seeks with empathy to reconcile them in the search for at least a limited version of membership in a common community.”
In his seminal work, Citizens Plus, Cairns draws on H.B. Hawthorne’s idea of the “citizens plus” label as articulated in the Hawthorne Report of the 1960s of which Cairns was a part. As Cairns explains, the Hawthorne Report concluded that, “In addition to the normal rights and duties of citizenship, Indians possess certain additional rights as charter members of the Canadian community.” Cairns calls for an institutional resolution to the “plight” of Indigenous peoples within Canada; however, despite his insistence on a form of citizenship as the answer to the uncertainties and challenges facing their communities, he admits, “Citizenship is a malleable and contested institution that can serve different purposes… In Canada, Aboriginal nationalism leads to the idea of an Aboriginal citizenship in the self-governing Aboriginal nations of the future, the nature of whose reconciliation with Canadian citizenship is unclear.”
. In 1998, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 2003, he was inducted into the City of Cambridge Hall of Fame. He has received honorary degrees from Carleton University
(1994), the University of Toronto (1996), the University of British Columbia (1998) and the University of Saskatchewan
(2002).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
political science professor emeritus.
Born in Galt (now part of Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
), he received his BA in 1953 and his MA degree in 1957 from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In 1963, he obtained a D.Phil from St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.St Antony's is the most international of the seven all-graduate colleges of the University of Oxford, specialising in international relations, economics, politics, and history of particular parts of the...
. He was a member of the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
from 1960 until his retirement in 1995 and served as head of the department from 1973 to 1980.
Cairns' most famous piece of writing on Canadian politics is likely his 1971 article "The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and its Critics" which discusses judicial activism
Judicial activism
Judicial activism describes judicial ruling suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The definition of judicial activism, and which specific decisions are activist, is a controversial...
in Canada. It is often listed as one of the most-cited academic works concerned with the Canadian political system.
Cairns’ scholarship has explored a multitude of issues within Canadian political science, sparking decades of debate and refinement of his ideas. In reference to Cairn’s intellectual legacy, Gerald Kernerman and Philip Resnick state: “On a remarkably wide range of topics – from the regional impact of Canada’s electoral system, the role of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and the development of Canadian federalism to the ongoing efforts to constitutionally reshape the federation and the effects on minorities of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Cairns has initiated and shaped many of our most pivotal debates.” Cairns’ work focuses extensively on the question of citizenship in the Canadian federation, a theme important to a discussion of Indigenous rights
Indigenous rights
Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the preservation of their land, language, religion and other elements of cultural...
and citizenship. In addressing the situation facing Indigenous communities across Canada, Cairns acknowledges that there is a great challenge in speaking about a group to which one does not belong. He suggests that the present “discontents” between Indigenous peoples and the state are “largely due to the past silencing of Aboriginal voices. The resolution of this set of circumstances can only occur if we talk to each other in a way that both articulates our differences and seeks with empathy to reconcile them in the search for at least a limited version of membership in a common community.”
In his seminal work, Citizens Plus, Cairns draws on H.B. Hawthorne’s idea of the “citizens plus” label as articulated in the Hawthorne Report of the 1960s of which Cairns was a part. As Cairns explains, the Hawthorne Report concluded that, “In addition to the normal rights and duties of citizenship, Indians possess certain additional rights as charter members of the Canadian community.” Cairns calls for an institutional resolution to the “plight” of Indigenous peoples within Canada; however, despite his insistence on a form of citizenship as the answer to the uncertainties and challenges facing their communities, he admits, “Citizenship is a malleable and contested institution that can serve different purposes… In Canada, Aboriginal nationalism leads to the idea of an Aboriginal citizenship in the self-governing Aboriginal nations of the future, the nature of whose reconciliation with Canadian citizenship is unclear.”
Honours
In 1982, he received the Molson PrizeMolson Prize
The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts is awarded by The Canada Council for the Arts. Two prizes are awarded annually to distinguished individuals. One prize is awarded in the arts, one in the social sciences and humanities...
. In 1998, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2003, he was inducted into the City of Cambridge Hall of Fame. He has received honorary degrees from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
(1994), the University of Toronto (1996), the University of British Columbia (1998) and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
(2002).