Radical Anti-Poverty Organizing in a Neoliberal Ontario
Poverty, Politics and Participation: Radical Anti-Poverty Organizing in a Neoliberal Ontario by David Newberry BA, Trent University, 2008 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Political Science David Newberry, 2008 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Poverty, Politics and Participation: Radical Anti-Poverty Organizing in a Neoliberal Ontario by David Newberry BA, Trent University, 2008 Supervisory Committee Dr. Matt James (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. Warren Magnusson (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member Dr. Dennis Pilon (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Matt James (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. Warren Magnusson (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member Dr. Dennis Pilon (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member In this thesis I explore neoliberalism and resistance to neoliberalism by focusing on the relatively recent rise of radical, local anti-poverty organizations in Canada, particularly on the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) in Toronto. To accomplish this exploration, I present a brief history of neoliberalization in two ways: first in theory, exploring the phenomenon in general, and then in a more specific context, through the study of neoliberalization in Ontario. Special emphasis is given to the ways in which contemporary processes of neoliberalization tend to discourage collective action and movement formation, and encourage the ideological, discursive, and practical depoliticization of issues and communities. In addition, I suggest that Ontario’s neoliberalization has led mainstream left forces to retreat to a more moderate support base in the middle class, leaving poor people and anti-poverty activists with little potential for meaningful participation in political processes.
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