Alex Marland – författare

Changes in technology and media consumption are transforming the way people communicate about politics. Are they also changing the way politicians communicate to the public? Political Communication in Canada examines the way political parties, politicians, interest groups, the media, and citizens are using new tactics, tools, and channels to disseminate information, and also investigates the implications of these changes. Drawing on recent examples, contributors review such things as the branding of the New Democratic Party, how Stephen Harper's image is managed, and politicians' use of Twitter. They also discuss the evolving role of political journalism, including media coverage of politics and how Canadians use the Internet for political discussions. In an era when political communication – from political marketing to citizen journalism – is of vital importance to the workings of government, this timely volume provides insight into the future of Canadian democracy.

The pursuit of political power is strategic as never before. Ministers, MPs, and candidates parrot the same catchphrases. The public service has become politicized. And decision making is increasingly centralized in the Prime Minister's Office. What is happening to our democracy? In this persuasive book, Alex argues that political parties and government are beholden to the same marketing principles used by the world's largest corporations. Called branding, the strategy demands repetition of spoken, written, and visual messages, predetermined by the leader's inner circle. Marland warns that public sector branding is an unstoppable force that will persist no matter who is in power. It also creates serious problems for parliamentary democracy that must be confronted. This book will fascinate anyone who is interested in how Ottawa works and where Canadian politics is headed.

An eye-opening look at how political parties and the government use branding strategies and the implications that this has for Canadian democracy.

Election campaigning never stops. That is the new reality of politics and government in Canada, where everyone from staffers in the Prime Minister's Office to backbench MPs practise political marketing and communication as though each day were a battle to win the news cycle. Permanent Campaigning in Canada examines the growth and democratic implications of political parties' relentless search for votes and popularity and what constant electioneering means for governance. With the emergence of fixed-date elections and digital media, each day is a battle to win mini-contests: the news cycle, public opinion polls, quarterly fundraising results, by-elections, and more. The contributors' case studies reveal how political actors are using all available tools at their disposal to secure electoral advantage. This is the first study of a phenomenon – including the use of public resources for partisan gain – that has become embedded in Canadian politics and government.

Political Elites in Canada offers a timely look at Canadian politics and how power brokers are adapting to a fast-paced digital media environment. Elite power structures are changing worldwide, and the rise and fall of political influencers permeates national headlines. In many areas, traditional elites are losing authority over prevailing social, economic, and political structures. Communication between and among elites and citizens is having dramatic implications for political institutions and governance. This volume explores the changing landscape of power brokers, the ascent of new elites, and how these groups are using digital communication to connect with Canadians in unprecedented ways. Featuring empirical studies of governmental decision makers in the public service, such as political staff and public servants, premiers, and judges, and non-governmental influence brokers, such as social media commentators and non-profit organizations, this collection is a much-needed synthesis of elite politics in Canada.

Political leaders are the public face of a party during an election campaign. But what type of work is conducted behind the scenes by lesser-known party members attempting to propel their leaders to victory at the federal level in Canada? Inside the Campaign is a behind-the-scenes look at the people involved in an election campaign and the work they do. Each chapter reveals how campaign staffers, as well as by those covering and organizing election-related events, perform their duties and overcome obstacles during the heat of a campaign to get their respective leaders elected. Practitioners and political scientists collaborate to present real-world insights that demystify over a dozen occupations, including campaign chairs, fundraisers, advertisers, platform designers, communication personnel, election administrators, political staff, journalists, and pollsters. Inside the Campaign provides an inside look at, and unparalleled understanding of, the nuts and bolts of running a federal campaign in Canada.

Canadians often see politicians as little more than trained seals who vote on command and repeat robotic talking points. Politicians are torn by dilemmas of loyalty to party versus loyalty to voters. Whipped examines the hidden ways that political parties exert control over elected members of Canadian legislatures. Drawing on extensive interviews with politicians and staffers across the country, award-winning author Alex Marland explains why Members of Parliament and provincial legislators toe the party line, and shows how party discipline has expanded into message discipline. He recounts stories from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's drive for caucus cohesion in the 1980s through to the turmoil that the SNC-Lavalin crisis wrought on Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party in 2019. From caucus meetings to vote instructions, this book exposes how democracy works in our age of instant communication and political polarization. Filled with political tips, Whipped is a must-read for anyone interested in the real world of Canadian politics.

Inside the Local Campaign reveals what goes on in constituency campaigns during a Canadian election. It brings to light the key roles of candidates and their supporters on the ground in an election, and demonstrates that local electioneering matters.For decades, the media has focused primarily on the national campaign and party leaders, and the practice of canvassing for votes by candidates and their supporters has been seen as more tradition than science. But things have evolved in the age of digital media. Local-level campaigning is more fashionable – and critical for gathering data that can be used post-election. Inside the Local Campaign provides an up-to-date look at local-level campaigning during a Canadian federal election. Using the 2021 federal campaign as an anchor, an impressive collection of authors and practitioners discusses local-level campaigning in electoral districts across the country, highlights local trends and on-the-ground roles, and discloses hidden details about how local campaigns are run.

Navigating a career in Canada’s public service can be a complex journey. The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada serves as an essential resource for those seeking to transition into and thrive in provincial and federal government roles. Written for university students, early-career public servants, and those shifting into government from other sectors, the book demystifies spaces between politics and public administration.The new, updated edition is organized into five concise chapters. It begins with an exploration of what it means to be a public servant, the core principles of governance, and the division of power in Canadian government. It demonstrates the value of helping to define and deliver the public good in a politically charged environment and explores the expectations and realities of government employment, delving into the politicized nature of public administration and public policy. Providing comprehensive insights into the roles, competencies, and career development strategies essential for success in public service, each chapter includes practical tips and key takeaways that reinforce learning and practice. More than merely a tool for individual advancement, this guide is a call to action for building a more informed and effective public service in Canada.

Why are Canadian politicians so loyal to their parties? Why do so few parliamentarians rebel as mavericks or switch sides? And can anything loosen the grip that party leaders have on elected representatives?No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics by political scientists Alex Marland, Jared J. Wesley, and Mireille Lalancette provides the first in-depth examination of the forces shaping party loyalty in Canadian politics, revealing how Members of Parliament and provincial legislators are conditioned to prioritize partisan interests over constituents and independent judgment. The authors show how institutional rules, political pressure, social dynamics, and digital technologies reinforce a system demanding unwavering loyalty. Drawing on extensive interviews with politicians and senior staff, plus analyses of thousands of news stories spanning four decades, this book traces how party discipline evolved into message discipline, where control over speech is as strict as control over votes.As political parties consolidate power and dissenting voices grow rarer, No I in Team raises urgent questions about the state of democratic representation in Canada – one of the world’s most stable democracies – where elected officials increasingly act as partisans rather than delegates of their communities or trustees of the broader public good.

Why are Canadian politicians so loyal to their parties? Why do so few parliamentarians rebel as mavericks or switch sides? And can anything loosen the grip that party leaders have on elected representatives?No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics by political scientists Alex Marland, Jared J. Wesley, and Mireille Lalancette provides the first in-depth examination of the forces shaping party loyalty in Canadian politics, revealing how Members of Parliament and provincial legislators are conditioned to prioritize partisan interests over constituents and independent judgment. The authors show how institutional rules, political pressure, social dynamics, and digital technologies reinforce a system demanding unwavering loyalty. Drawing on extensive interviews with politicians and senior staff, plus analyses of thousands of news stories spanning four decades, this book traces how party discipline evolved into message discipline, where control over speech is as strict as control over votes.As political parties consolidate power and dissenting voices grow rarer, No I in Team raises urgent questions about the state of democratic representation in Canada – one of the world’s most stable democracies – where elected officials increasingly act as partisans rather than delegates of their communities or trustees of the broader public good.