Class, crisis, and political ideology in Canada: recent trends zyx DOUG BAER, EDWARD CRABB, and WILLIAM A. JOHNSTON Western Ontario* La relation entre appartenance de classe et idiologie politique en periode de dPclin Pconomi- que est itudiie ici au moyen d’un modele zyxwvu B indicateurs multiples (LISREL). Ceci est la premiere analyse de son genre B utiliser du matiriel Canadian. Elle s’intkresse aux diffirences attitudinales entre classes face a la redistribution de la richesse et aux dipenses reliies aux programmes sociaux. Les donnies utilis6es sont des series longitudinales tiries des sondages sur la Qualiti de la vie, de 1977, 1979 et 1981. Nos rPsultats indiquent que les attitudes des repondants sont resties stables malgri le changement du climat Pconomique. Ceci dit, une certaine polarisation des attitudes est mise au jour entre les principales classes sociales, particulikrement entre 1977 et 1979. Nous Pvaluons la signification de ces rPsultats, en prttant une attention particulikre zyx P une exploration his- torique et comparative des liens entre mobilisation politique et changement d’attitudes. This paper presents the results of applying a multiple indicator model (LISREL) to an examination of the relationship between class location and political ideology in a period of serious economic decline. The analysis, which is the first of its type to be based on Canadian evidence, considers class differences in attitudes about the distribution of wealth and support for social welfare expenditures, using longitudinal data from the 1977, 1979, and 1981 Quality of Life surveys. The findings indicate that, despite the chang- ing economic context, attitudes were generally stable at this time. However, the results demonstrate that at least some modest polarization of attitudes did occur among the major social classes, especially in the period from 1977 to 1979. The implications of these findings are assessed, with particular reference to a comparative and historical explora- tion of the links between political mobilization and attitude change. University of INTRODUCTION This paper will examine the relationship between class and political ideology in Canada, particularly the effects of sustained economic crisis on this relationship. We wish to thank Sam Clark, Fred Evers, and Robert Gardiner for their contributions to the paper. As well, Veronica D’Souza provided excellent-typing services. The order of authorship is alphabetical. This manuscript was received in January, 1986 and accepted July, 1986. Rev. canad. SOC. zyxwvuts & Anth. zyxwvu I Canad. Rev. SOC. & Anth. 24(1) 1987