Solving the Prairie Paradox: Myths and Party Politics in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Despite decades of distinctiveness, questions persist as to why provinces as similar as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have developed such diverse patterns of party competition. This paper supplements conventional solutions to this "prairie paradox" - grounded in political culture and political economy - with an ideational analysis of campaign narratives. An examination of dominant party platforms in the region reveals that each system is focused around a unique provincial "myth". Cultivated by prominent politicians over time, these myths help explain the emergence and persistence of the three distinct worlds of party politics on the prairies. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]