Canadian Mosaic
9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall
Admission: free

The common metaphor for American political culture is a melting pot. In Canada, the prevailing image is of a mosaic. The study of political culture is a bit like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. There are lots of intricately cut tiny pieces in odd shapes and configurations. These itsy-bitsy morsels mean little when they’re spread out haphazardly on a table. However, when the pieces are locked together, a rather intriguing picture emerges. Canada’s political culture is founded on several interlocking principles: regionalism, dualism, and continentalism. The purpose of this presentation is to explore these puzzle pieces and how they fit together to form a brilliant and complex picture of Canadian political culture.

Dr. Elizabeth Paddock graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor of arts degree in Modern Languages (French) and the University of Kansas with a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in political science, notably comparative politics and American politics. Her dissertation addressed political culture and ethnolinguistic challenges in Canada, Belgium, France, and the United States. Dr. Paddock lives in Springfield, Mo., where she has taught political science for more than 20 years at Drury University. She has lived in France, and travels extensively in Canada and the United States. She currently is chair of the Department of History, Political Science, and Geography, and is working on a manuscript that examines political culture and the evolution and challenges of women’s political engagement in Canada and the United States.