Review by Choice Review
An excellent analytic history of Quebec society and politics focusing on events since 1960 by an author with extensive experience in European politics. The study opens with a survey of the province since the 16th century. Fitzmaurice then examines, in succession, the economic and social changes the province has undergone as a result of the so-called ``Quiet Revolution''; the economic structure; the operation of the provincial and local governments; relations between Quebec and the federal government; the party system, with an emphasis on both the Parti Quebecois (PQ) and the Quebec Liberal party; the role of the unions and the other major interest groups; and the referendum of 1980. He concludes with a brief prospective that foreshadows the recent victory of the Liberals over the PQ. This volume is unlikely to be regarded as definitive, but it is probably the best synoptic study of the province written in English. It should be of interest to Canadianists, observers of Quebec politics, and to specialists in comparative government who speculate about the rise and fall of separatist movements throughout the world. Upper-division and graduate students as well as serious general readers.-P. Regenstreif, University of Rochester
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
