Let's be clear at the outset: Not a Conspiracy Theory: How Business Propaganda Hijacks Democracy is a conspiracy theory—an effort to assess and explain the current state of Canadian politics and public discourse by examining conservative strategies over three decades to influence debate and policy making. It is also a call to action for progressive forces. With this engaging and provocative book, Donald Gutstein will take a prominent place in a tradition of Canadian authors calling attention to and heavily criticizing conservative thinking and resulting shifts in economic, trade, taxation, energy and social policy. Forerunners include Linda McQuaig and Naomi Klein, and the book calls to mind the ongoing work of G. William Domhoff in the United States probing “who rules America.” This book will stimulate strong reactions: it will be celebrated in some quarters, vilified in others, and many public intellectuals and pundits will rush to defend their...
Evert Lindquist is a professor and the director of the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria. His recent publications include Think Tanks, Foundations and Policy Discourse: Ebbs and Flows, Investments and Responsibilities (2006) and There’s More to Policy Than Alignment (2009) for Canadian Policy Research Networks.
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