The Place of Immigrants: The Politics of Difference in Territorial and Social Space.

Canada's immigration discourse tends to treat immigrants as the object of inquiry. The discourse itself is taken for granted and is seldom scrutinized. This paper discusses the framework by which the immigration discourse is shaped and articulated. The aim is to understand the representation of immigrants in the construction and safe-keeping of Canada's actual and virtual boundaries. The place of immigrants in territorial and social space reveals the discursive grounds by which "insiders" represent and racialize those deemed to be outside and different. In turn, plotting the place of "others" reinforces the proprietary claim of territorial and social space by those who have secured legitimacy and power. Thus, the discursive mapping of immigrants in Canada's territorial and social terrains is an extension of politics of difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]