Author Archives: J.W.J. Bowden

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About J.W.J. Bowden

My area of academic expertise lies in Canadian political institutions, especially the Crown, political executive, and conventions of Responsible Government; since 2011, I have made a valuable contribution to the scholarship by having been published and cited extensively. I’m also a contributing editor to the Dorchester Review and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law.

Some Thoughts on an Old Metaphor: From the Ship of State to The Armada of State

Posted on 2017/08/19 by J.W.J. Bowden

In Book VI of The Republic, Plato likened governing a polis to piloting a ship. Plato’s interlocutor, Socrates, invoked this ancient parable to explain why the ship’s unassuming star-gazing navigator represents the philosopher-king who possesses the best qualities — namely, … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Leave a comment

A Review of the Play 1979 and Joe Clark’s Legacy

Posted on 2017/08/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

Structure and Overview of 1979 On 28 April 2017, I saw 1979, a play written by the capable Michael Healey about the events leading to the defeat of Joe Clark’s short-lived ministry. The play took place at the Great Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

A Classical Liberal Defence of Constitutional Monarchy

Posted on 2017/07/20 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction: The Strange Americanism of Canadian Libertarians  Since 2011 when I attended one of the Institute for Liberal Studies’ Liberty Summer Seminars (LSS), I’ve noticed that Canadian libertarians often demonstrate a strange American streak, and that their understanding of constitutions and … Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchism v Republicanism, Parliamentarism v Presidentialism, Responsible Government, Separation of Powers | 5 Comments

The Caretaker Convention in Action in British Columbia

Posted on 2017/07/17 by J.W.J. Bowden

Tomorrow, on 18 July 2017, Lieutenant Governor Guichon will swear in Premier-designate John Horgan as the next Premier of British Columbia, along with the rest of his cabinet.[1] The transition between the outgoing Clark ministry and the incoming Horgan ministry … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Constitutional Conventions | 3 Comments

George Brown and Canada’s Manifest Destiny

Posted on 2017/07/11 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction The Globe and Mail prides itself as the paper of record in Canada, much like The Times of London for the United Kingdom, and it is not an undeserved appellation. The Globe and Mail’s and Globe’s archives provide an … Continue reading →

Posted in Dominion Day, History of British North America | 2 Comments