More than Just a Line on the Map: The Political Culture of the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick Boundary

The boundary that separates the Canadian provinces of New Brunswickand Nova Scotia was established in 1784. This article contraststhe political orientations of those who live within a commonborder region, but on opposite sides of the New Brunswick andNova Scotia boundary, and concludes that the boundary line hasindependently had a divisive impact on the area's politicalculture. Unless this particular provincial boundary is atypical,therefore, the institution of federalism is, in some measure,inherently centrifugal.     

The Italian General Elections: Something New or More of the Same Thing?

Since the Second World War, Italy has been ruled by shifting coalitions dominated by the Christian Democrat Party to the exclusion of the main opposition, the Communist Party. The continuity in power of the government coalitions and inter party/faction negotiations created the conditions for the abuses of state resources which came to light with the investigations of the Milan magistrates. Electoral reforms intended to break the stranglehold of the partyocracy by encouraging the formation of two main alternative political blocs have been implemented. However, the 1994 elections have returned a right wing coalition to power, and the opposition remains deeply divided.