Subseries 16.7 - Course POL202

This subseries consists of course material for POL202. The course was taught by Clarkson every year over a 6-year period between 1969 and 1975, and then again in 1979-1980. The course held different titles over the years, including POL202 A Simulation of the Canadian-American Relationship (1969-1971), POL202 The Political Economy of Canadian Dependence (1973-1973), POL202 The Dynamics of Canadian Dependence (1973-1975), and POL202 The Political Economy of the Canadian-American Relationship (1979-1980). The format also varied over the years, and in early 1970s took the form of a simulation course where students represented various political systems responding to different political crises. However, no matter the format, the course always focused on Canadian political economy, with a considerable emphasis both on federal-provincial problems and the impact of American control through the economy and the media on Canadian politics. Clarkson often taught the course in collaboration with Professor Abraham Rotstein.

Records in this subseries include course outlines (from 1970 to 1979), examination templates, student feedback templates, course evaluation questionnaires, student course questionnaires, presentation/lecture slides, simulation scenarios. Also included is material used to build course and lectures which mostly consists of annotated articles and essays, as well as newspapers clippings. Finally there is also: correspondence and notes relating to a lecture on Canadian foreign policy that Clarkson gave at Northwestern University (Illinois) in 1976; drafts for “National Pathology and Cultural Policy”, an article written by Clarkson and published in a special issue on cultural policy of The Canadian Forum (September 1977); as well as several articles on policy and reform in the US and Canada written by Clarkson between 1970 and 1973.

A number of records also relate to the University of Toronto and Trent University Games. The simulation courses from the two universities met in February 1971 to play out a complex scenario involving the political, economic, military and cultural aspects of the Canadian-American relationship. The simulation course at Trent University focused on American politics and dealt primarily with Congressional and White House politics, whereas the University of Toronto course taught by Clarkson concentrated on Canadian political economy.

Open

• Student evaluations for this course can be found in Series 17 – Teaching: Student Evaluations and Ph.D. Files (B2016-0003/131 & /132)
• Writings relating to the Simulation method teaching can be found in Sub- Series 11.1 Writing – General.