Against Reform

John Pepall

$99.99

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

University of Toronto Press
16 October 2010

Constitution: government & the state

Series: U of T Centre for Public Management Series on Public Policy & Administration

In Against Reform, John Pepall offers a stringent critique of proposed reforms to Canada's political institutions. Examining electoral reform, an elected or provincially appointed Senate and reduced terms for Senators, fixed election dates, recall, initiative, and parliamentary reform, including 'free votes' and parliamentary confirmation of appointments, Pepall contends that these reforms are ill-conceived and would be harmful.

At the root of Pepall's critique is an argument that, in Canada today, too many voters are quick to blame institutions rather than their own conflicting interests and understandings when they do not receive what they want out of government. While considering influential factors such as academic and media bias, political fashion, and the American example, Pepall's unique and highly readable assessment takes aim at the practical and theoretical understandings of reform across party lines.

By: John Pepall
Imprint: University of Toronto Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions: Height: 236mm, Width: 157mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 400g
ISBN: 9780772786241
ISBN 10: 0772786240
Series: U of T Centre for Public Management Series on Public Policy & Administration
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 16 October 2010
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 2If It Ain't Broke, Fix It: Fixed Election Dates 3Out of Proportion: Proportional Representation 4Fun with Figures 5The People Speak? 6How to Vote: Some Simple Ways 7Ontario's Quiet Referendum: Electoral Reform in Ontario 8Parliamentary Reform 9Cross-Purposes: Parliamentary Confirmation of Appointments 10 Perpetual Elections: Recall 11 Do It Yourself: Initiative 12 The Senate 13 Let It Be Notes Index

John Pepall is a writer and political commentator based in Toronto.

Reviews for Against Reform

'John Pepall's arguments 'against reform, ' are passionate, witty, and persuasive. He debunks everything from public relations to fixed terms and election dates to great effect, and is wonderfully critical of the half-baked theories held dear by rationalist political scientists. Against Reform will enliven the broader political discourse with its practical wisdom and great attention paid to real-world detail.'--Barry Cooper, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary