Date of Award

8-1983

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology

Supervisor

Ralph Matthews

Co-Supervisor

Frank Jones

Language

English

Committee Member

Michael Atkinson

Abstract

This study is an in depth examination of societal conditions related to the rise of the Albertan western separatist movement" during 1980-. The paradigm chosen to analyze Albertan societal conditions was from Neil J. Smelser's Theory of Collective Behavior. To operationalize the given paradigm, Maurice Pinard's theory of one party dominance, James C. Davies' theory of revolution, and the concept of 'issues' were employed. In comparison to Saskatchewan and Ontario, only Alberta's federal and provincial political party systems were characterized by the condition of one-party dominance. A sudden state of uncertainty, a revision of Davies' theory of revolution, likewise prevailed exclusively within Alberta. In addition, Alberta underwent greater social changes during the 1970's. These findings indicated further that Alberta's political, economic, and social conditions seemingly combined to produce a pre-conducive state for the re-emergence of the western separatist movement in that province.

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