Contemporary Federalist Thought in Quebec. Historical Perspectives, Montréal et Kingston, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Democracy, Diversity, and Citizen Engagement Series, 2023.
Quebec’s most recent attempts to assert its distinctiveness within Canada have relied on unilateral constitutional means to strengthen its French and secular character, suggesting that an important change of political culture has taken place in Quebec.
With its diverse team of researchers, Contemporary Federalist Thought in Quebec considers the recent history of the debate that once threatened Canada with disjunction, exploring the federalist thought that continues to shape constitutional debate in Quebec. Examining historical perspectives from 1950 to the present day, the volume draws portraits of the key actors in the federalist movement – including political leaders, intellectuals, academics, activists, and spokespersons for pressure groups – comparing their various outlooks, interventions, and values, and examining the ties that bind these actors to the sense of nationalism that emerged during Quebec’s Quiet Revolution.
Taking a multidisciplinary approach, Contemporary Federalist Thought in Quebec casts new light on the continuing debate surrounding Quebec’s place in Canada and gives nuance to what is traditionally conceived as a rigid opposition between sovereigntists and federalists in the province.
Review
“This engaging collection reflects recent trends in Quebec scholarship and expertly showcases the retrieval of the conservative tradition in Quebec politics and political thought – an excellent study of political history in Quebec, which we have not seen to the same extent in the rest of Canada.”
Peter Graefe, McMaster University and co-editor of Overpromising and Underperforming?: Understanding and Evaluating New Intergovernmental Accountability Regimes
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