Option Québec: Essai

by LEVESQUE R

French text. René Lévesque lance Action Québec en 1968, quelques mois après avoir quitté le Parti libéral. Texte de combat, défense et illustration de la souveraineté-association, Qption Québec demeure I'oeuvre politique la plus importante de René Lévesque et l'expression la plus achevée d'une pensée qui est restée étonnamment fidèle à elle-même jusqu'à la disparition de I'hornme politique en 1987. André Bernard est politicologue. Professeur à I'UQAM, il a publié de nombreux ouvrages sur la politique québécoise. Dans I'important essai qui précède le texte de René Lévesque, il raconte I'histoire de l'option souveraineté-association depuis la naissance de ce qui allait devenir le Parti québécois. Malgré I'échec du référendum de 1980, malgré la désaffection qui a frappé depuis la cause de I'indépendance, il est difficile de croire que la question nationale a aujourd'hui trouvé sa solution définitive. De toutes les réponses qui ont été proposées pour contrer l'assimilation de la nation québécoise, la souveraineté-association compte parmi celles qui ont attiré le plus grand nombre de suffrages. Le temps ne serait-il pas venu de la reconsidérer attentivement?

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Brendan McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a holy grail to me as not only is it a stirring and fantastic read, but it is also the basis for virtually all separatist movements in the West. Want to understand Quebec, Catalonia, Scotland, Wallonia, or any other similar case? Start here.

[Ben Allen]

One of the WORST side effects of the ongoing crisis of literacy in young people is that the only book not written in German to be left on the shelf at this hostel is, for some reason, an English copy of the Quebec sovereignty manifesto, which I will obviously but begrudgingly read to pass half a morning. Makes the surprising and prescient argument that strong Quebecois self-determination is a necessary buttress against intruding American interests; but, simultaneously suggests maintaining a number of existing, important federalist institutions (the dollar, the postal service, etc.). So, kind of unclear to me what would be different for a sovereign Quebec other than getting to ignore the higher legal body that currently tells them "you cannot be institutionally racist, actually". Honestly a bit dull as far as manifestos go.

[Dust · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's an essential read when getting into Quebec Politics. As a Quebecer who grew up on the English dominated West Island of Montreal, it's quite taboo to talk about PQ and Quebec separatism. However, I'm glad I read this essay. There is much more to Levesque than hating English Canada despite what a lot of anglophones would tell you - even though his writing can be quite dry and dense to read. If you are part of the progressive left in Quebec and want to learn about its history, then you have an obligation to read this.

[Sylvain Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre qui fût un tournant dans l'histoire récente du Québec. Quelques passages peuvent être plus lourds à lire, mais tout nationaliste québécois doit avoir ce bouquin dans sa bibliothèque

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Levesque was definitely more naive than the souverainistes who followed him, obviously he didn't have the same hindsight mais en tout cas. My favourite part was the response to the possibility of the English provinces aspiring for U.S. statehood after a successful vote for Quebec independence, to which he basically just goes "nuh uh, shut up, I'm not listening lalalalalalala." Otherwise it was quite enjoyable, primarily useful as a historical document, I don't think any modern pequistes will find all that much useful here.