GUTSTEIN: Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his think tank

[Oscar]

Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his think tank colleagues have transformed Canada

[ http://www.amazon.ca/Harperism-Stephen- ... 145940663X ]

by Donald Gutstein (Author)

Paperback – Sep 3 2014

Margaret Thatcher transformed British political life forever. So did Ronald Reagan in the United States. Now Canada has experienced a similar, dramatic shift to a new kind of politics, which author Donald Gutstein terms Harperism. Among its key tenets:

- A weakened labour movement--and preferably the disappearance of unions--will contribute to Canada's economic prosperity
- Cutting back government scientific research and data collection will improve public policy-making
- Eliminating First Nations reserves by converting them to private property will improve conditions of life for aboriginal peoples
- Inequality of incomes and wealth is a good thing--and Canada needs more of it

These and other essential elements of Harperism flow from neo-liberal economic theories propounded by the Austrian economist Friedrich von Hayek and his U.S. disciples. They inspired Thatcherism and Reaganism. Stephen Harper has taken this neo-liberalism much further in many key areas. As Donald Gutstein shows, Harper has successfully used a strategy of incremental change coupled with denial of the underlying neo-liberal analysis that explains these hard-to-understand measures.

The success of Harperism is no accident. Donald Gutstein documents the links between the politicians, think tanks, journalists, academics, and researchers who nurture and promote each other's neo-liberal ideas. They do so using funds provided by ultra-rich U.S. donors, by Canadian billionaires like Peter Munk, and by many big corporations--all of whom stand to gain from the ideas and policies the Harperites develop and push.

This book casts new light on the last ten years of Canadian politics. It documents the challenges that Harperism--with or without Stephen Harper--will continue to offer to the many Canadians who do not share this pro-market world view.

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Product Description

[ http://www.amazon.ca/Harperism-Stephen- ... 145940663X ]

Review

"This book sheds new light on Harper's symbiotic relationships with the network of conservative think tanks that created the environment that moved his ideas from the fringes to the mainstream and continue to validate his agenda." - Bruce Campbell, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) 2014-09-01

"Donald Gutstein does a powerful job of analyzing the ideology and practice of Harperism as it rolls steadily across the institutions of our country, undermining regulations, firing researchers, intimidating NGOs, and demonizing labour unions, environmentalists, and Native leaders." - Charlie Angus, Member of Parliament 2014-09-01

"An immensely powerful and insightful probe of Stephen Harper's impact on Canada. While the mainstream media allows Harper to portray himself as a moderate, Donald Gutstein skillfully traces the deep links between Harper and the right-wing world of corporate-funded think tanks. A great book for anyone looking to cast an informed vote in the 2015 election." - author Linda McQuaig 2014-09-01

About the Author

DONALD GUTSTEIN has written four books on the links between large corporations, politics, and the media. His previous book, Not A Conspiracy Theory, is a history of the Fraser Institute and other think tanks. Gutstein writes for The Tyee, Georgia Straight, and rabble.ca. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University and co-director of NewsWatch Canada, a media-monitoring project in the school. He lives in Vancouver.

[Oscar]

Harper's Canada: What have we become?

[ http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2014/12/ ... 0&at_tot=5 ]

By Amira Elghawaby | December 11, 2014

Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his think tank colleagues have transformed Canada by Donald Gutstein (Lorimer, 2014; $22.95)

Does it ever feel like you've just woken up and found yourself living in a country you don't recognize? How did Canada get to where it is today -- a more militaristic, nationalistic, free-market-at-all-costs place that seems to have shed its world-renowned reputation as a land of peacekeepers, multiculturalism, social responsibility and scientific advancement?

It hasn't been by accident. In fact, as Donald Gutstein points out in the opening phrase of his book, Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his Think Tank Colleagues Have Transformed Canada, this is exactly what Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised he'd do.

And he did it with a little bit of help from his friends.

With an academic thoroughness that is admirable and rarely tedious, Gutstein systematically tackles the central themes of the neoliberal agenda and how they were "incrementally" incorporated into Harper government policy. These themes, laid out chapter by chapter, are: winning the battle of ideas, rejecting unions, countering the environmental threat to markets, and fashioning Canada as a "great" nation.

In essence, support for these various themes have been nurtured and promoted from within a well-financed cabal of right-wing think tanks that continue to spew out policy papers and ideas to support a specific worldview at odds with most progressive national and international movements and thought.

From so-called "economic freedom," to "dead capital" on First Nation reserves, to the undermining of scientific knowledge and a denial of the existence of income inequality, Gutstein takes readers deep within the thinking behind many of the decisions made by the Harper government. And the thinking has firm roots in the "unique blend of neoliberalism and socially conservative family and cultural values" that came together so successfully in former leaders Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher (at least, successful from their perspectives).

Gutstein argues that the "ism" appended to Thatcher and Regan were due to the wide influence of their ideas beyond their own rule. Harper, posits Gutstein, is no different -- and he couldn't have done it without the persuasive powers of the right-wing think tanks.

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