Are immigrants natural conservatives?
When U.S. President Barack Obama won 71 per cent of the Hispanic vote in 2012, it dealt the final blow to an idea that had been popular during George W. Bush’s years: that Hispanic Americans’ conservative values on social issues (rooted in their predominantly Catholic religiosity), made them “natural” Republicans.
December 27, 2013
December 27, 2013immigration,multiculturalism,politics,Insight,social valuesmichael adams
The myth of conservative Canada
Much has been made of a purported rightward shift in Canadian values. But research shows that Canadians still want government in their lives, and a majority are not embracing conservative social values.
September 16, 2013
September 16, 2013politics,Insight,canadian identity,values,social change,government rolemichael adams
The youth vote is key for today’s Trudeaus
Justin Trudeau, leader of a Liberal Party that many recent polls have found nudging ahead of the Conservatives, is fond of describing his growing army of young volunteers across the country.
August 26, 2013
August 26, 2013politics,Insight,social values,values,civic engagementmichael adams
Confessions of a homegrown sociologist
I’ve been committing sociology since my early youth. My parents and even my parish priest failed to detect early signs of trouble, even though I read the daily newspaper voraciously (a common warning signal among teenagers in the 1960s).
May 2, 2013
May 2, 2013Insightcanadian identity,values,role of research,michael adams
New American values
Why does demographic change matter to politics? Different demographic groups are not hard-wired to vote differently.
December 31, 2012
December 31, 2012politics,Insight,social values,united states,united states politicsmichael adams
Justin time for the Liberals
Justin Trudeau has declared his candidacy for the leadership of a party has been desperately seeking a saviour for years. As one leader after another has failed to connect with Canadian voters, many Liberals have longed for "a new Trudeau."
October 22, 2012
Canadians are richer than they think
It seems every day Canadians awake to another sober message from a bank economist or cabinet minister – one part scolding, one part warning, all very serious. We are spending too much relative to our earnings.
June 30, 2012
June 30, 2012Insightcanadian identity,economy,values,michael adams
Hockey, fighting, and what it means to be a man
The first rule of fight club was don’t talk about fight club. The first rule of Canadian hockey seems to be never stop talking about it.
May 28, 2012
May 28, 2012Insightcanadian identity,values,social change,sports,michael adams
So happy, yet so restless in Alberta
After 41 years of Progressive Conservative government, Albertans appear to be in the midst of a political shakeup. The polls show a more competitive election than most would have expected even a few months ago.
April 19, 2012
April 19, 2012politics,Insight,canadian identity,economy,government role,alberta,income inequalitymichael adams








