William Christian (Canadian political scientist)
Encyclopedia
Professor William Christian (b. Queen Charlotte Islands
, British Columbia
1945-) was a Political Scientist at the University of Guelph
. He retired in 2008. Educated at the University of Toronto
(BA, MA) and the London School of Economics
(PhD), he is best known academically for his research and teaching in Canadian Political Thought.
Beginning in 1970, he taught at Mount Allison University
. He joined the faculty at Guelph in 1978. His publications include biographies of George Grant
and Sir George Parkin, George Grant's grandfather, as well as topics ranging from the political and economic history of Canada (i.e. The Idea File of Harold Adams Innis), to a concern for the philosophical roots of the Western tradition (i.e. "Waiting for Grace: Philosophy and Politics in Plato's Republic"). In 1974, along with Colin Campbell, he published the first edition of Political Parties and Ideologies in Canada. The scholarship was an original and valuable contribution, since it emphasized the ideological roots shaping Canada and its political parties, as opposed to a social science analysis of power relationships. The textbook distinguished the philosophical foundations of each political party by tracing its comparative tradition, policies, and leaders. In 2006, he and Campbell 'Canadianized' a leading American textbook on ideologies. Besides his academic concerns, he contributes regularly to Waterloo Region Record as a columnist and blogs for historywire.ca.
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
1945-) was a Political Scientist at the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
. He retired in 2008. Educated at 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...
(BA, MA) and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(PhD), he is best known academically for his research and teaching in Canadian Political Thought.
Beginning in 1970, he taught at Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
. He joined the faculty at Guelph in 1978. His publications include biographies of George Grant
George Grant (philosopher)
George Parkin Grant, OC, FRSC was a Canadian philosopher, teacher and political commentator, whose popular appeal peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his nationalism, political conservatism, and his views on technology, pacifism, Christian faith, and abortion...
and Sir George Parkin, George Grant's grandfather, as well as topics ranging from the political and economic history of Canada (i.e. The Idea File of Harold Adams Innis), to a concern for the philosophical roots of the Western tradition (i.e. "Waiting for Grace: Philosophy and Politics in Plato's Republic"). In 1974, along with Colin Campbell, he published the first edition of Political Parties and Ideologies in Canada. The scholarship was an original and valuable contribution, since it emphasized the ideological roots shaping Canada and its political parties, as opposed to a social science analysis of power relationships. The textbook distinguished the philosophical foundations of each political party by tracing its comparative tradition, policies, and leaders. In 2006, he and Campbell 'Canadianized' a leading American textbook on ideologies. Besides his academic concerns, he contributes regularly to Waterloo Region Record as a columnist and blogs for historywire.ca.
List of works
- Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. (2nd Canadian edition) with Terence Ball and Richard Dagger. Toronto: Pearson, 2009.
- Parkin: Canada's Most Famous Forgotten Man. Toronto: Blue Butterfly Books, 2008.
- "Was George Grant a Red Tory?" Athens and Jerusalem: George Grant’s Theology, Philosophy, and Politics. Angus, Ian, Ronald DartRon DartRonald Samuel Dart , BA ; DCS, MCS , MA , PhD studies at , is a , author, and ACC mountaineer....
and Randy Peg Peters (editors). University of Toronto Press, (2006) - George Grant: A Biography . Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1993
- "Waiting for Grace: Philosophy and Politics in Plato's Republic", Canadian Journal of Political Science , (March 1988).
- Political parties and ideologies in Canada : liberals, conservatives, socialists, nationalists. 3rd edition Toronto : McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1990.
- "Parties, Leaders, and Ideologies in Canada." Toronto : McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1996
- The Idea File of Harold Adams Innis introduced and edited by William Christian. Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1980
- Innis on Russia : the Russia diary and other writingsedited with a preface by William Christian. -- Toronto : Harold Innis Foundation, 1981.
External links
- Christian's blog http://historywire.ca/en/blog/19590
- Christian's biography of Sir George Parkinhttp://www.bluebutterflybooks.ca/titles/parkin.html