Factors Affecting The Ebb & Flow

of Quebec’s Nationalist ‘Project’

• Linguistic Insecurity - esp. demographic threatIRONY OF BILL 101: increased sense of IRONY OF BILL 101: increased sense of linguistic security, and thereby led to linguistic security, and thereby led to greater integration with English speaking greater integration with English speaking worldworld

• Feelings of Rejection by Rest of Cda• Feelings of Self-confidence & of Individualism• Labour union militancy, incl. public svc unions

- promotes ethclass consciousness- public service = imp. pillar of Que ntlsm

• Charismatic Leadership - e.g., R. Levesque,

L. Bouchard• Precipitating Event

especially if symbolically charged

Some Effects of a Referendum Campaign

• Divides families, friends, workplace relationships

• Heightened Anxiety/Tension & Anticipation

e.g., children’s nightmares; Anglos Will civility prevail or will we

become like Bosnia?

• Immigrants feel like 2nd class citizens• Emphasis on “we” vs “they” distinctions

& primordialism(“pur laine” Quebecois)

i.e., ethnic nationalism, rather than civic nationalism

• Depression &/or sense of betrayal among losers

Issues Surrounding The Separation of Quebec

• What Will Happen to R.O.C.?• Labrador Border• Allocation of Assets & Liabilities

e.g., proportion of national debt; valuation date of assets

• Partition of Quebec Itself- esp. aboriginal people

• Who Will Negotiate for Canadaif PM is from Quebec?

• Free-trade - Quebec-Canada; Quebec-USA

• Ill-will• “Once things start to unravel, they’ll

move very quickly in ways we cannot foresee. No one can predict the outcome.” (Gordon Richie)