SYMBOLISM, RHETORIC AND REALITY IN POLITICAL PERFORMANCE: AN EXAMINATION OF A KEY SPEECH-EVENT BY PREMIER WILLIAM N. VANDER ZALM AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY Bernhard Peter Archer B.A. Simon Fraser University, 1985 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the LDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology 0 Bernie P. Archer 1990 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY December 1990 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. APPROVAL NAME : Bernhard Peter Archer DEGREE : Master of Arts TITLE OF THESIS: Symbolism, Rhetoric and Reality in Political Performance: An Examination of a Key Speech-Event by Premier William N. Vander Zalm and the British Columbia Social Credit Party EXAMINING COMMITTEE: Chairperson: Karl Peter MICHAEL KENNY SENIOR SUPERVI s/ 1 BOB ANDERSON MARTIN ROBIN EXTERNAL EXAMINER PROFESSOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY January 25, 1991 DATE APPROVED: PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser University the right to lend my thesis, project or extended essay (the title of which is shown below) to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Title of Thesis/Project/Extended Essay Symbolism, Rhetoric and Reality in Political Performance: An Examination of a Kev S~eech-Eventby Premj~rW~ll~an -. N. Vand~r7alm and the Rrltlch. Columbia Social Credit Party Author: Z (signature) Bernhard Peter Archer (name) QP9\c \&\ (date) iii ABBTRACT SYMBOLISM, RHETORIC AND REALITY IN POLITICAL PERFORMANCE: AN EXAMINATION OF A KEY SPEECH-EVENT BY PREMIER WILLIAM N. VANDER ZALM AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY The focus of this thesis is a political event that occurred in the province of British Columbia on January 17, 1990. When seen as a 'cultural perf ormancel, this event -- a major speech by the Premier -- provides insights into the beliefs and ideology of the dominant political organization in the province, the Social Credit Party of British Columbia. The thesis also discusses some relevant social and historical factors and provides examples of how these elements, beliefs and ideas are linked to the political process in the province. Following the lead of Clifford Geertz, the speech-event can be seen to be part of a social process involving the symbolic construction and sharing of meanings in people's daily lives. These meanings delineate sets of ideas about reality which, in turn, yield programs, plans for actions, and actual legislation. In other words, the ideas and meanings presented in public performance indicate both a 'model of and a 'model for social experience, as understood by prominent Social Credit proponents. This thesis examines a number of analytical and empirical questions including: how Social Credit actors use rhetorical statements and dramaturgy in order to maintain political power and economic iv privilege; how Social Credit's historical, sociological and political background provides a context for understanding and making sense of the Premier's speech; and, what is revealed about the ideological nature of the Social Credit symbolic domain, given insights suggested by this particular performance. Essentially, the thesis offers both an explanation for and an understanding of Social Credit rhetoric, actions, and behaviour, based upon the method of combining social history and participant- observation, with a theory of symbols and meanings treated as a dynamic cultural system with identifiable ideological patterns. The study provides an interpretation of the central elements and processes which underpin the way Social Credit deals with the social, economic and political world, and, as the governing party, sustains relations of domination. The findings are cause for concern in a legitimate democracy. DEDICATION To Sherri, Brendan and Garrett: It has been difficult for all of us, but I could not have done it without you. QUOTATION Illusions created within anyone's house-on-the-hill need not constrain the most precious aspects of humanistic, spiritual, physical, social and intellectual life vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis was made possible by the gracious help and encouragement of a number of people. My thanks go first to Dr. Michael ~enn~who allowed me the freedom to explore and pursue my interests despite the inevitable pressures of arbitrary timetables and alien performance expectations existing outside our control. Thanks are also due to Drs. Marilyn and Gary Gates and Dr. H. Steve Sharp for believing in my potential and pointing me towards graduate studies in political culture, a path I would not have contemplated. Dr. Beverley Gartrell's invaluable guidance and Dr. Hamish Dickie-Clark's humanistic and intellectual example will always remain with me, especially in the classroom. A number of other people were also helpful in criticizing and reading the thesis. Alan Dutton reviewed a first draft, while Ron McGivern pointed out some grammatical shortcomings on a later draft (he will always owe me a two-four due to my unacknowledged substantive input into his own thesis and defence). Jeff Sommers provided informative comments and encouragement, while Lloyd Geidt was an indispensible critic, intellectual sounding board and friend throughout the process. viii CONTENTS PRELIMINARY PAGES APPROVAL PAGE .................................................ii ABSTRACT .....................................................iii DEDICATION .....................................................v QUOTATION.....................................................vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................,.......vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...........................................viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: - A Key Political Speech as Cultural Performance...............l THEORETICAL ORIENTATION: - Symbolism, Interpretation and Political Performance..........8 METHODOLOGY: - Political Performance and Situational Analysis ..............19 - The Data ....................................................21 - On the Organization and Handling of the Data................24 CHAPTER I1 BACKGROUND: - The Early Development of the Social Credit and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) Movements........30 - Similarities and Differences between Social Credit and the CCF ................................................39 - The Entrenchment of the Ideology of Management ..............50 - New Techniques and Old Attitudes ............................62 CHAPTER I11 THE SPEECH-EVENT OF JANUARY 17, 1990: - Introduction and Intent of Chapter ..........................72 - W. Vander Zalm and Crisis Management ........................76 - The Dramaturgy of the Speech ................................98 - The Text and Its Meanings ..................................lo7 - Figure I...................................................llO - Figure I1 ..................................................115 CHAPTER IV CONCLUSIONS: - Social Credit: Beliefs, Rhetoric and Ideology ..............157 APPENDICES .Appendix I . Official Text of the January 17th Speech .......169 .Appendix I1 . Translation of the Text .......................179 - Appendix I11 . Basic Chronology .............................188 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY .References cited ...........................................195 - References consulted .......................................206 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: A KEY POLITICAL SPEECH AS CULTURAL PERFORMANCE This thesis is a study of a contemporary political event which emanated from its distinctive social history and occurred on January 17, 1990 in the province of British Columbia, Canada. This event, a televised speech by the current Premier of the province, the Hon. William N. Vander Zalm, can be seen as a 'cultural performance'. When analyzed, the Premier's speech provides insights into the ideology and myths of the official governing party, Social Credit. The thesis uses this event as an heuristic device which allows for a focused exploration of both Social Credit socio-political beliefs and an explication of how these ideas are linked to political process in British Columbia. Political performances, mass spectacles, festivals and other public events are laden with symbols and meanings. As such they have long been of interest to anthropologists (cf. Gluckman 1940; Warner 1959; Turner 1957, 1974, 1982; Geertz 1973, 1980; Manning 1983). From the literature it is clear that political performances are at once symbolic and cultural activities which allow for the use of a particular methodological approach -- situational analysis -- and provide insights into the history, politics, economic and social relationships, and belief systems of the actor-group in question. This thesis, then, takes a particular situation, the Premier's speech, and analyzes the event and the public statements surrounding it in an attempt to understand why and how they took this particular form. In doing so, I will examine the historical, sociological, political and ideational factors which provide the background