Sustaining a Dynasty in Alberta: The 2004 Provincial Election

Abstract

In 2004 the Alberta Progressive Conservative party won an election that prolonged their political dynasty, which had begun some thirty-three years earlier. Dynasties seem to characterize Alberta politics, and over the years several researchers have formulated models to explain them. This paper uses the 2004 election as a case study to evaluate the contemporary relevance of a number of those theories of one-party dominance; in particular, it examines what they can offer to explain the latest extension of Tory hegemony. It also examines some factors that are not contained in the models in order to provide a fuller explanation of how the Conservative dynasty was preserved. We conclude that some of the standard theories of one-party dominance in Alberta are problematic or incomplete, and suggest some modifications.