Alain Noël

Few notions are as universal as the idea of a left-right divide in politics. Despite its death being frequently foretold, the left-right metaphor remains the most common lens through which to interpret political life locally, nationally and globally. Left and Right in Global Politics argues that the left-right divide connects these different levels into a world political debate. Interpreting the left-right dichotomy as an enduring debate about equality, Noël and Thérien analyse opinion polls and social discourses to demonstrate how this debate shapes both individual and collective views of public affairs. Setting their findings in a historical perspective, they then show that for more than two centuries the conflict between progressives and conservatives has structured both domestic and international politics. They conclude by discussing the implications of their argument for the analysis of world politics, and contend that the left-right opposition is here to stay.

Few notions are as universal as the idea of a left-right divide in politics. Despite its death being frequently foretold, the left-right metaphor remains the most common lens through which to interpret political life locally, nationally and globally. Left and Right in Global Politics argues that the left-right divide connects these different levels into a world political debate. Interpreting the left-right dichotomy as an enduring debate about equality, Noël and Thérien analyse opinion polls and social discourses to demonstrate how this debate shapes both individual and collective views of public affairs. Setting their findings in a historical perspective, they then show that for more than two centuries the conflict between progressives and conservatives has structured both domestic and international politics. They conclude by discussing the implications of their argument for the analysis of world politics, and contend that the left-right opposition is here to stay.

Do federal institutions shape policy outcomes? In return, do public policy objectives influence federal arrangements? In Federalism and Labour Market Policy the authors examine these questions through systematic analyses of labour market policies in five federations: Belgium, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

Seven leading experts examine various aspects of the Agreement and consider whether it fulfils its expected role with respect to intergovernmental relations and social policy, whether it is a viable arrangement given the non-participation of one of its partners, and whether it should be renewed and under what conditions. Contributors include Christian Dufour (ENAP), Roger Gibbins (Canada West Foundation), Alain Noël (Université de Montréal), Susan Phillips (Carleton University), Michael Prince (University of Victoria), Bruno Théret (Université de Paris, Dauphine), and Yves Vaillancourt (UQAM).

Les politiques de soutien qui visent les sans-emploi sont de plus en plus souvent assorties de conditions que l'on regroupe sous le terme de contrepartie. Ces politiques dites actives font appel a la responsabilite des personnes et imposent des conditions plus ou moins contraignantes. Parallelement, l'aide tend a devenir moins genereuse. Ce livre etudie la transformation de ces politiques dans six pays: le Canada, les Etats-Unis, le Royaume-Uni, la France, l'Allemagne et le Danemark. Cette etude comparative transversale fait ressortir les relations entre les sans-emploi et l'Etat, le marche du travail et l'environnement social. La contrepartie temoigne de la transformation de l'action sociale des Etats. La situation varie beaucoup d'un pays a l'autre, et ces differences sont revelatrices de tendances plus larges a l'oeuvre dans les politiques sociales. On trouve d'un cote des pays qui organisent le traitement des sans-emploi sous un mode plutot collectif et, de l'autre, des pays ou l'individu et la sanction du marche constituent la reference premiere. Par ailleurs, si l'intervention de l'Etat passe de plus en plus par un soutien aux familles, celui-ci varie beaucoup au point d'apparaitre comme la dimension la plus discriminante des nouvelles politiques sociales. Cet ouvrage propose une analyse systematique des logiques d'intervention qui faconnent ces nouvelles formes de protection sociale. Il s'adresse non seulement aux chercheurs, mais aussi aux professionnels qui interviennent aupres des personnes sans emploi et aux decideurs.