LE3 .A278 1996

1996

Stewart, Ian

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Political Science

Politics

The purpose of this thesis is twofold. First, the view of academics and political analysts historically has been that ideology is unimportant in the Maritime region. This thesis examines the role of ideology and policy positions on voting behavior in the 1992 Nova Scotia Liberal Leadership Convention to assess whether ideology has become important as a voting criterion at conventions in the region. In the conclusion, the 1991 Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Convention is analyzed as well, because the Liberal convention was an unusual, technologically innovative convention that may have favoured ideology as a voting factor. Second, the examination of ideological voting behavior in empirical political anaysis presents a number methodological difficulties that have left many such analyses subject to extensive criticism. In this thesis, a number of innovative methodological techniques are used in an attempt to more conclusively prove a theoretical point, and also to provide insights for future analyses into more effective methods of conducting ideological or policy-based voting analysis. Ultimately, it will be argued that ideology does have a significant impact on voting behavior at Nova Scotia conventions.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:384