Thomas Eugene Flanagan

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Thomas Eugene Flanagan is a Canadian writer and professor of political science at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He was the only son of an Irish-American family from Illinois, and he attended the University of Notre Dame, Indiana as an undergraduate.

Born in the United States, Flanagan first moved to Canada after completing a Ph.D at Duke University to take up a post at the University of Calgary.

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

In terms of aboriginal history, Flanagan argues, using anthropological evidence, that aboriginals were North America's "first immigrants." From this historical analysis, he argues against contemporary "aboriginal orthodoxy" that he thinks grips public policy debate on aboriginal history.

He has been a government witness in 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 reducing the extent of aboriginal land claims settlements.

In terms of politics, 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, the Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. He worked as Harper's national campaign director in the 2004 federal election, and was a senior campaign advisor in the 2006 election.

Flanagan is a senior fellow of the free-market think tank, the Fraser Institute.

Preceded by ??

Chief of Staff of the Opposition Leader's Office 2002–2003

Succeeded by Phil Murphy

Preceded by ??

National Campaign Manager of the Conservative Party of Canada 2003–2005

Succeeded by Doug Finley