Tom Flanagan

Thomas Eugene (Tom) Flanagan is an American-born writer and professor of political science at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He was the only son of an Irish-American family in Illinois, and attended the University of Notre Dame, Indiana as an undergraduate. He moved to Canada for the first time after completing a Phd at Duke University, North Carolina to take up a post at the University of Calgary.

Related Topics:
University of Calgary - Alberta - Canada - Irish-American - Illinois - University of Notre Dame - Indiana - Phd - Duke University - North Carolina

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Flanagan is part of a group known as the Calgary School. He has gained notice for his controversial views about Louis Riel and First Nations people.

Related Topics:
Calgary School - Louis Riel - First Nations

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Flanagan takes what has been called a "revisionist" approach to First Nations history. He has claimed that First Nations people were North America?s "first immigrants" and has worked to debunk what he calls a politically correct "aboriginal orthodoxy". He has worked as a historical consultant and expert witness to counter aboriginal land claims. His belief that First Nations were Canada's "first immigrants" is seen by some as a politically useful tool for the Canadian government in denying aboriginal land claims.

Related Topics:
Revisionist - Expert witness - Aboriginal land claims

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Flanagan worked for Preston Manning in the early days of the Reform Party of Canada, but left following the 1993 general election. Currently, Flanagan is a close confidant of Stephen Harper, leader of the opposition Conservative Party of Canada. He worked as Harper's national campaign director in the 2004 federal election. It was announced in 2005 that he will serve again as national campaign director for the Conservatives in the next general election, expected in 2005 or early 2006.

Related Topics:
Preston Manning - Reform Party of Canada - 1993 general election - Stephen Harper - Conservative Party of Canada - 2004 federal election - Next general election

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Flanagan is a senior fellow of the conservative think tank, the Fraser Institute.

Related Topics:
Senior fellow - Fraser Institute

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