You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
In the twentieth century, the British Crown appointed around a hundred thousand people - military and civilian - in Britain and the British Empire to honours and titles. For outsiders, and sometimes recipients too, these jumbles of letters are tantalizingly confusing: OM, MBE, GCVO, CH, KB, or CBE. Throughout the century, this system expanded to include different kinds of people, while also shrinking in its imperial scope with the declining empire. Through these dual processes, this profoundly hierarchical system underwent a seemingly counter-intuitive change: it democratized. Why and how did the British government change this system? And how did its various publics respond to it? This study...
More than ever Canada’s constitutional monarchy should be treasured as a distinct asset for the nation. Following Queen Elizabeth II’s historic Diamond Jubilee in 2012, there is renewed interest in the institution of the Crown in Canada and the roles of the queen, governor general, and lieutenant governor. Author D. Michael Jackson traces the story of the monarchy and the Crown and shows how they are integral to Canada’s parliamentary democracy. His book underscores the Crown’s key contribution to the origins, evolution, and successful functioning of Canadian federalism, while the place of the monarchy in francophone Canada and the First Nations receives special attention. Complex issues such as the royal prerogative, constitutional conventions, the office of lieutenant governor, and Canada’s honours system are made readily accessible to the general reader. Jackson examines the option of republican governance for Canada and concludes that responsible government under a constitutional monarchy is far preferable. He further argues that the Crown should be treasured as a distinct asset for Canada.
Orders of Knighthood are the most exclusive and prestigious institutions in the world. Originally the preserve of royalty and aristocracy, they now include amongst their membership tycoons such as Rupert Murdoch, entertainers (Sir Mick Jagger, for example) and world leaders (Nelson Mandela). Burke's Peerage and Gentry have now produced a major new study of the extant orders of knighthood and merit of every state, the result of the collaboration of many of the world's leading specialists. The first section commences with detailed histories of the surviving confraternal orders, beginning with the famous Order of Malta. The second section includes histories of all the great European single clas...
Canada and Germany are among the largest contributors to the international mission in Afghanistan, with troops in different parts of the country, fulfilling different roles. Canada's higher ratio of combat to development work is reflected in a higher rate of casualties. Canadians have sometimes joined in criticisms of Germany and other European allies for their unwillingness to take on riskier military tasks in Afghanistan's southern and eastern provinces. Some Germans, in turn, have chided Canada for stressing war - fighting at the expense of approaches more centred on development. This Canadian-German dialogue reflects a larger debate, both operational and existential, within NATO concerni...
This updated, full-colour illustrated book recounts the history of Canada’s various national orders, decorations, and medals. This expanded and updated edition of The Canadian Honours System surveys the history of Canada’s various orders, decorations, and medals, from New France’s Croix de St. Louis, Britain’s the Order of the Bath, to modern Canadian honours such as the Sacrifice Medal and recently created Polar Medal. Since the establishment of the Order of Canada in 1967, the Canadian honours system has grown to become one of the most comprehensive in the world — with more than 300,000 Canadians having been rewarded over the past fifty years. Each honour in the modern Canadian honours system, and its precursor, the British imperial honours system, is examined here in detail, including historical background, design, and criteria for bestowal. With special chapters on heraldry, protocol, and the proper mounting and wearing of medals, The Canadian Honours System is an essential reference for anyone interested in Canadian honours.
During the 1990s, the world saw an unprecedented use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the delivery of public services, many of which succeeded in improving the efficiency of the delivery of public services. This book evaluates all aspects of PPPs in order to determine their overall value for money.
Royal recognition in Canada is accorded through a variety of honours and awards, including the Royal Victorian Order, Medal, and Chain; Vice-Regal and Commissioners’ Commendations; and Vice-Regal and Commissioners’ Recognition Badges. On Her Majesty’s Service examines the history and development of these marks of honour from the Crown in detail and also provides complete lists of Canadian recipients and a section on heraldry. The Royal Victorian Order and Medal have been used since 1896 to honour Canadians who have rendered extraordinary or personal services to the Sovereign, while the Royal Victorian Chain was instituted in 1902. The Vice-Regal and Commissioners’ Commendations are valuable awards presented by lieutenant-governors and territorial commissioners for important services to a viceregal or territorial commissioner; lieutenant-governors, territorial commissioners, and their spouses are accorded royal recognition through the Vice-Regal and Commissioners’ Recognition Badges.
This book offers innovative thoughts on present and future approaches to the study of the Canadian past. Moving beyond the political vs. social history debates that have dominated the field since the 1970s, these essays suggest novel questions and approaches while delving into recently overlooked subjects. The authors place a particular emphasis on international, transnational, and comparative approaches to the past. Essays cover such topics as the Atlantic World, oral history, postcolonialism, public history, historical periodization, Canada's place in the British Empire, and French-English relations. The art of history as a discipline and practice is also discussed. A must read for Canadia...