Game Theory and Canadian Politics

David E. Smith is a professor of political Studies at the University of
Saskatchewan and the author of Building a Province: A History of
Saskatchewan in Documents and The Invisible Crown.

Little is heard in Canada about game theory, and nothing about what game
theory can contribute to the study of Canadian politics. The source of
the silence lies in the intellectual isolation of the country’s
academics and in their fear of numbers. This book goes some way toward
reducing both inhibitions.

Through seven case studies of generally well known political issues and
controversies—for instance, the 1995 modifications to the
constitutional amendment procedure (the so-called five-region
veto)—Tom Flanagan shows that game theory is capable of adding
insights to Canadian politics (in this instance the supposed
beneficiaries of the change actually lost influence). He makes no claim
that it is superior in explanatory power to the traditional approaches
that study political institutions, philosophy, or behavior. But he does
show that game theory complements rather than competes with these
approaches. Why was Parliament unable to agree upon an abortion law
after the Morgentaler decision? Why do Canadians measure their weather
in degrees Celsius and themselves (still) in pounds? Stalemates, for
that is what these half-measures are, arise not just because of
partisanism, ignorance or bull-headedness; they are the product of
procedural intricacies and strategic dilemmas. Resort to game theory
helps make that much clear.

It also helps inject a disciplined perspective where too often in
politics there is rootless speculation. Along the way readers meet,
among others, the Prisoner’s Dilemma of the concept of the Pareto
optimum, Nash equilibrium, and a Condorcet winner. They also learn why
baseball managers do not choose only left-handed batters, although in a
world populated by right-handed pitchers, left-handed batters do better
at the plate.

This is an excellent book, one that will be widely used in university
classes, although readers do not need a university education to
understand it—Professor Flanagan is both numerate and literate.