Maintaining the Narrative: A Content Analysis of the Impact of Political Discourse on Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador Political Culture

Abstract

The following project is an examination of political culture in Canada. More specifically, this work argues that the methods used to study political culture in Canada need to be modified to improve the relevance of political culture research. By doing so, an understanding of political culture in specific political entities will produce a greater understanding of the development of a collective over time. In order to test this argument a content analysis of the discourse of political leaders in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador was carried out using the qualitative research software, Nvivo, to assist with the large scope of data. It is argued that a content analysis of political discourse in the case studies reveal how political culture has been a contributing factor to the divergent development of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.