The Decline of Politics: The Conservatives and the Party System, 1901-1920

John English’s Decline of Politics explores one of the great turning points in Canadian history, illuminating the realities that shape and govern the country’s political life. A brilliant analysis of the events that transformed the nation’s politics a century ago and set the stage for subsequent decades of Liberal dominance, the book remains as lively and fresh as when it was first written. –R. Kenneth Carty, University of British Columbia

First published in 1977, The Decline of Politics became a seminal work of Canadian political history. This new edition has been corrected, newly typeset, and opens with a new introduction by the author. Prof. English takes a lively and insightful look at the first two decades of the twentieth century that laid the groundwork for the long period of Liberal rule that continued with only a few interruptions for the balance of the century.

An excellent study which combines a thorough knowledge of Canadian political history, deep research in manuscript sources, and the ability to use theoretical insights from social science. –Foreign Affairs