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Discuss The Ideological Complexities Of Canada's Confederation

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The Ideological Complexities of Canada's Confederation: A Burkean Lockean Analysis. March 15, 2024 Christopher Ruiz Liam Jehanghez Mueenuddin Poli 100: Introduction to Politics The Canadian Confederation of 1867 was one of the key moments in Canadian history, marking the consolidation of disparate colonies into a unified dominion. The Fathers of Confederation were central to navigating the complex political terrain to establish a sustainable foundation for peaceful governance. To understand if the Fathers of Confederation were more inclined towards Burkean conservatism or Lockean liberalism, we draw upon insights from Ryan Alexander McKinnel's The Parliamentary Regime: The Political Philosophy of Confederation. Firstly, Burkean conservatism draws on preserving tradition and gradual reform instead of revolutionary change; it emphasizes the importance of social hierarchy and order. McKinnel continuously states the importance of Burkean principles throughout …show more content…

Many of the Fathers of Confederation exhibited Burkean inclinations regarding the debate on the gradual evolution of governance structures and the preservation of said institutions. In McKinnel’s text on Parliamentary Regime, he states that “because of Burke’s foundational role in developing the theory of parliamentarian-ism, examining the Fathers of Confederation’s conception of legislative deliberation, responsible government and the role of a constitutional monarch alongside his arguments offers the best introduction to analyzing how Confederation is situated within the tradition of parliamentarianism.” (2023.p. 553). The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary'. Creating a narrative of unity and stability through language and discourse reflects Burkean ideals of maintaining

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