Canada's State Police: 150 years of the RCMP

by Greg Marquis

Stripping away the myth of the RCMP, historian Greg Marquis offers an account of 150 years of a state police force acting on behalf of the wealthy and powerful. From its start policing Indigenous people in western Canada, the RCMP has gone on to surveil, harass and seek to jail labour organizers, leftist idealists, Quebec sovereigntists and now environmental activists. The RCMP has often made itself judge, jury, and executioner of who can live unmolested in Canada. Drawing upon all the available literature on the origination's history, historian Greg Marquis lays bare 150 years of state police action. He highlights the force’s racism, sexism, misogyny, and internal dysfunctions. An invaluable resource, this book challenges the carefully constructed myths about the RCMP’s role in Canadian life.

Genres: Canada, History

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[O Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book on the history of the RCMP. I wasn't exactly knowledgeable on the subject prior to reading it and I would not really say that I am now either, but I certainly know something more.

The book is very strange in it's tone, occasionally liberalizing and at times utilizing a passive voice which I think did a great disservice to the severity of many of the actions carried out by the RCMP which were discussed (especially as it grew closer to our present times). I was surprised even by the end the author didn't take a clear stance on what should be done about the RCMP (abolish it,) leaving it merely to a future that "was not assured" and "could not be trusted to fix itself." I understand that this is a work of history and not one of theory, but nonetheless it is hard to come to any other conclusion.

The extensive references in the endnotes may provide better resources in finding information on the RCMP, as they both seem to have more depth and in some cases be more radical- from the few that I have looked at thus far.

I think some sections could have done with better editing, there were several times where it contradicted itself and in many places seemed to have sections that were unrelated or failed to materialize to a larger point; with others seemingly going nowhere.

As a book that I randomly came across on the store shelves I can say that I wasn't exactly unimpressed, if you are looking for a primer on the topic it is hardly a bad place to start. But for more in-depth works it may be a good bibliographic mine.

[ehsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thinks it very good and everything is unbiased and tells a comprehensive history of the RCMP. I wish that the author delve more into how RCMP relationship with indigenous communities more in the past 60-70 years and current a little bit more, since I feel that a lot the problems as a Canadian is talked about very abstractly idk how to explain honestly. I think that the author was way too impartial , but I understand that it is drilled into the discipline but sometimes in the book I found it weird when talking about like the most horrible crimes committed, I feel like normally one would not would as criticize so modestly. These all personal preferences as a non scholar, this is not criticism honestly it’s an amazing book honest and super accessible writing, which is the most important qualities I think in politics/history.

[Daniel Macgregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the history of the RCMP in Canada.