Home > Harold Innis

Innis was born in rural Ontario and went to McMaster University. Upon graduation he enlisted and was sent to France to fight in the First World War. Upon his return home he went to the University of Chicago where he received his doctorate in economics. He then returned to Canada where he spent the rest of his career at the University of Toronto.

He is known for the "nuts and bolts" approach of analysing Canada's political economy: focusing on the nation's role as an exporter of raw materials and grains, and using this to explain its regionalism and the working of its political superstructure. This is known as the Staples Thesis, and it is still the underpinning of the study of Canada's economic history.

Innis' theory of communication was to divide the subject into two. Time binding media includes printed and oral sources that are intended to last for many generations, but are only successfully used in relatively small communities. Space binding media includes most of the modern media such as radio, and television, as well as newspapers. This is information that is meant to reach as many as possible, but will not last long in time. While time binding media favoured community and metaphysics, space binding media favoured commercialism and imperialism. Marshall McLuhan was a student of Innis', and he built on many of Innis' ideas.

Innis died of cancer in 1952. Innis College at the University of Toronto is named after him.

Works:

• A History of the Canadian Pacific Railway - ( 1923)
• The Fur Trade in Canada: An Introduction to Canadian Economic History - ( 19301930 is the common year starting on Wednesday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 6 The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed ( Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 G)
• The Cod Fisheries: The History of an International Economy - ( 1942Events January January 1 World War II: The word " United Nations" is first officially used to describe the Allied pact. January 2 World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces. January 5 Amy Johnson disappears in flight over River Thames estuary ass)
• Political Economy in the Modern State - ( 1946Events January January 4 Theodore Schurch becomes the last person to be executed for offences committed under the Treachery Act of 1940 January 7 Allied recognize Austrian republic with 1937 borders the country is divided into four occupation zones Januar)
• Empire and Communications - ( 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with)
• The Bias of Communication - ( 1951Events January events January 9 United Nations headquarters officially opens ( New York City). January 15 Ilse Koch, The "Witch of Buchenwald," wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, is sentenced to life imprisonment in a court in We)
• The Strategy of Culture - ( 1952)
• Essays in Canadian Economic History - ( 19561956 is a leap year starting on Sunday. see link for calendar) Events January January 1 End of Anglo- Egyptian Condominium in Sudan. January 16 President Gamal Abdal Nasser of Egypt vows to reconquer Palestine January 26 1956 Winter Olympic Games open in)