1. As Canadian as possible ... under what circumstances?: Public opinion on national identity in Canada outside Quebec.
- Author
-
Raney T
- Subjects
- Canada ethnology, Government history, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Humans, Psychology, Social education, Psychology, Social history, Public Policy economics, Public Policy history, Public Policy legislation & jurisprudence, Quebec ethnology, Civil Rights economics, Civil Rights education, Civil Rights history, Civil Rights legislation & jurisprudence, Civil Rights psychology, Cultural Diversity, Public Opinion history, Social Change history, Social Identification
- Abstract
Public opinion on national identity in Canada is changing. Using data from the International Social Science Programme, this essay presents evidence that most Canadians have a strong national identity rooted in universal conceptions that everyone can share, such as citizenship. Data also show, however, that a growing number of Canadians define their national identity narrowly, such as through birthplace and religion. Drawing on research from social psychology, the essay suggests that theories of Canadian identity need to take into account the fact that many Canadians have strong national identities that do not fit cleanly into the civic/ethnic theoretical dichotomy.
- Published
- 2009
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