Janet Ajzenstat
Encyclopedia
Janet Ajzenstat is Professor emeritus of Political Science
at McMaster University
. The author of numerous works on Canadian political history, she is best known for The Political Thought of Lord Durham, where she argues that Durham's call for French Canadian assimilation was consistent with liberal principles.
Her view of Canadian federalism, which dismisses the idea of special status for Quebec or Aboriginals, provoked much scholarly debate, especially following the collapse of the Meech Lake Accord
. Ajzenstat also contends that judicial activism
undercuts the foundation of responsible government
; as a result, her work is well received by Conservative scholars, such as Barry Cooper
and Stephen Harper
's former chief of staff Ian Brodie
.
Ajzenstat received her PhD
from the University of Toronto
under the supervision of Peter H. Russell
. While a doctoral student, she was a Teaching Assistant
for Allan Bloom
's Introductory Political Philosophy course. She has described Bloom as a major influence on her own thought.
As an undergraduate at University College
, Ajzenstat majored in Art and Archeology. Following graduation in 1959, she worked at the Art Gallery of Ontario
, only turning to Political Science
in the mid-1960s. She is married to philosopher and fellow McMaster professor Samuel Ajzenstat. Their daughter, Oona Eisenstadt is a Professor of Jewish Studies
at Pomona College. Their son, Sandor Ajzenstat is a Canadian artist specializing in Soundsculpture.
She now runs a blog, where she comments on current affairs. http://janetajzenstat.wordpress.com
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. The author of numerous works on Canadian political history, she is best known for The Political Thought of Lord Durham, where she argues that Durham's call for French Canadian assimilation was consistent with liberal principles.
Her view of Canadian federalism, which dismisses the idea of special status for Quebec or Aboriginals, provoked much scholarly debate, especially following the collapse of the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
. Ajzenstat also contends that judicial activism
Judicial activism
Judicial activism describes judicial ruling suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The definition of judicial activism, and which specific decisions are activist, is a controversial...
undercuts the foundation of responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
; as a result, her work is well received by Conservative scholars, such as Barry Cooper
Barry F. Cooper
Fraser Barry Cooper is a Canadian Political Scientist at the University of Calgary's Department of Political Science. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he teaches courses in Political philosophy. Before coming to Calgary, he taught at Bishop's University , McGill University, and York University...
and Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
's former chief of staff Ian Brodie
Ian Brodie
Ian Brodie, is a Canadian political scientist and was Chief of Staff in Stephen Harper's Prime Minister's Office from Harper's ascension to the position of prime minister until July 1, 2008. The news that he was leaving the post came days before the release of a report on the Clinton/Obama NAFTA...
.
Ajzenstat received her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
under the supervision of Peter H. Russell
Peter H. Russell
Peter H. Russell is a writer and Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, Canada, where he taught from 1958-1997. He was a Member of the Toronto Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. He was the Principal of Innis College, at the University of Toronto, from 1973 to 1978...
. While a doctoral student, she was a Teaching Assistant
Teaching assistant
A teaching assistant is an individual who assists a professor or teacher with instructional responsibilities. TAs include graduate teaching assistants , who are graduate students; undergraduate teaching assistants , who are undergraduate students; secondary school TAs, who are either high school...
for Allan Bloom
Allan Bloom
Allan David Bloom was an American philosopher, classicist, and academic. He studied under David Grene, Leo Strauss, Richard McKeon and Alexandre Kojève. He subsequently taught at Cornell University, the University of Toronto, Yale University, École Normale Supérieure of Paris, and the University...
's Introductory Political Philosophy course. She has described Bloom as a major influence on her own thought.
As an undergraduate at University College
University College, University of Toronto
University College is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, created in 1853 specifically as an institution of higher learning free of religious affiliation. It was the founding member of the university's modern collegiate system, and its secularism contrasted with contemporary...
, Ajzenstat majored in Art and Archeology. Following graduation in 1959, she worked at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
, only turning to Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in the mid-1960s. She is married to philosopher and fellow McMaster professor Samuel Ajzenstat. Their daughter, Oona Eisenstadt is a Professor of Jewish Studies
Jewish studies
Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
at Pomona College. Their son, Sandor Ajzenstat is a Canadian artist specializing in Soundsculpture.
She now runs a blog, where she comments on current affairs. http://janetajzenstat.wordpress.com