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Finding Our Way: Rethinking Ethnocultural Relations in Canada
Many people think that ethnocultural politics in Canada are spiraling out of control, with ever more groups making ever greater demands. This book offers a more balanced picture. We have learned important lessons about how to accommodate ethnocultural differences, from the integration of immigrants to the accommodation of Quebecois nationalism, and these lessons can help us tackle the major challenges still facing us.
- GenresNonfiction
168 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 1998
29 people want to read
About the author
Will Kymlicka
83 books76 followersWill Kymlicka received his B.A. in philosophy and politics from Queen's University in 1984, and his D.Phil. in philosophy from Oxford University in 1987. He is the author of seven books published by Oxford University Press: Liberalism, Community, and Culture (1989), Contemporary Political Philosophy (1990; second edition 2002),Multicultural Citizenship (1995), which was awarded the Macpherson Prize by the Canadian Political Science Assocation, and the Bunche Award by the American Political Science Association, Finding Our Way: Rethinking Ethnocultural Relations in Canada (1998), Politics in the Vernacular: Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Citizenship (2001), Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity (2007), which was awarded the North American Society for Social Philosophy’s 2007 Book Award, and Zoopolis: A Political Theory of Animal Rights (2011), co-authored with Sue Donaldson, which was awarded the 2013 Biennial Book Prize from the Canadian Philosophical Association
He is also the editor of Justice in Political Philosophy (Elgar, 1992), and The Rights of Minority Cultures (OUP, 1995), co-editor with Ian Shapiro of Ethnicity and Group Rights (NYU, 1997), co-editor with Wayne Norman of Citizenship in Diverse Societies (OUP, 2000), co-editor with Simone Chambers of Alternative Conceptions of Civil Society (PUP, 2001), co-editor with Magda Opalski of Can Liberal Pluralism Be Exported? (OUP, 2001), co-editor with Alan Patten of Language Rights and Political Theory (OUP, 2003), co-editor with Baogang He of Multiculturalism in Asia (OUP, 2005), co-editor with Keith Banting of Multiculturalism and the Welfare State: Recognition and Redistribution in Contemporary Democracies (OUP, 2006), co-edior with William M. Sullivan of The Globalization of Ethics: Religious and Secular Perspectives (Cambridge UP, 2007), and co-editor (with Bashir Bashir) of The Politics of Reconciliation in Multicultural Societies (OUP, 2008), co-editor with Avigail Eisenberg of Identity Politics in the Public Realm: Bringing Institutions Back In (UBC Press, 2011), co-editor with Kathryn Walker of Rooted Cosmopolitanism: Canada and the World (UBC Press, 2012), and co-editor with Eva Pfostl of Multiculturalism and Minority Rights in the Arab World (OUP, 2014).
He is currently the Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy at Queen's University, and a visiting professor in the Nationalism Studies program at the Central European University in Budapest. His works have been translated into 32 languages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, of the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research, and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy. From 2004-6, he was the President of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy.
He is also the editor of Justice in Political Philosophy (Elgar, 1992), and The Rights of Minority Cultures (OUP, 1995), co-editor with Ian Shapiro of Ethnicity and Group Rights (NYU, 1997), co-editor with Wayne Norman of Citizenship in Diverse Societies (OUP, 2000), co-editor with Simone Chambers of Alternative Conceptions of Civil Society (PUP, 2001), co-editor with Magda Opalski of Can Liberal Pluralism Be Exported? (OUP, 2001), co-editor with Alan Patten of Language Rights and Political Theory (OUP, 2003), co-editor with Baogang He of Multiculturalism in Asia (OUP, 2005), co-editor with Keith Banting of Multiculturalism and the Welfare State: Recognition and Redistribution in Contemporary Democracies (OUP, 2006), co-edior with William M. Sullivan of The Globalization of Ethics: Religious and Secular Perspectives (Cambridge UP, 2007), and co-editor (with Bashir Bashir) of The Politics of Reconciliation in Multicultural Societies (OUP, 2008), co-editor with Avigail Eisenberg of Identity Politics in the Public Realm: Bringing Institutions Back In (UBC Press, 2011), co-editor with Kathryn Walker of Rooted Cosmopolitanism: Canada and the World (UBC Press, 2012), and co-editor with Eva Pfostl of Multiculturalism and Minority Rights in the Arab World (OUP, 2014).
He is currently the Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy at Queen's University, and a visiting professor in the Nationalism Studies program at the Central European University in Budapest. His works have been translated into 32 languages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, of the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research, and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy. From 2004-6, he was the President of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2009
An optimistic view about the effects of multiculturalism in Canada.
The book refers not only to ethnic groups, but also to minorities such as the Deaf, sexual minorities, religious minorities etc. Representation of several groups is treated too.
The problem of nationalism in a multinational state. The best solution would be democratic federalism.
Kymlicka draws some comparisons between American federalism and Canadian situation and rises the question: can we speak about nationhood in Canada?
The problem of Aboriginal groups, the whole debate on Quebec's "distinct" status, the stubborness of English-speaking Canadians not to accept a multination conception of federalism, assymmetrical multination federalism being the best proposal, the importance of "national conversation"...all these are presented with much seriosity.
Anyway multiculturalism is quite a debatable problem. I will get a clear opinion after reading Bissoondath and Gwyn too. Antonio D'Alfonso presented his own opinions in In Italics and in Gambling with Failure...Even Kymlicka noticed some shortcomings...but I must find out if the huuuuuge discussions have also proposed much better solutions...
The book refers not only to ethnic groups, but also to minorities such as the Deaf, sexual minorities, religious minorities etc. Representation of several groups is treated too.
The problem of nationalism in a multinational state. The best solution would be democratic federalism.
Kymlicka draws some comparisons between American federalism and Canadian situation and rises the question: can we speak about nationhood in Canada?
The problem of Aboriginal groups, the whole debate on Quebec's "distinct" status, the stubborness of English-speaking Canadians not to accept a multination conception of federalism, assymmetrical multination federalism being the best proposal, the importance of "national conversation"...all these are presented with much seriosity.
Anyway multiculturalism is quite a debatable problem. I will get a clear opinion after reading Bissoondath and Gwyn too. Antonio D'Alfonso presented his own opinions in In Italics and in Gambling with Failure...Even Kymlicka noticed some shortcomings...but I must find out if the huuuuuge discussions have also proposed much better solutions...
October 3, 2016
Professor Kymlicka's mid-90s analysis of multiculturalism, electoral reform and assymetrical federalism.
A well-balanced, accomodating, and in-depth look at the resilience of the Canadian project and its ultimate signification for the people who constitute its citizenry.
A well-balanced, accomodating, and in-depth look at the resilience of the Canadian project and its ultimate signification for the people who constitute its citizenry.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews