Cultural and Social Identity in Canadian
Introduction
Canada is a sovereign country belonging to the North America block that is formed by ten provinces and three territories. His official languages are English and French and his political system is the parliamentary monarchy.
It is clear that Canada is one of the most relevant countries within the current international system and both its actions and positions greatly influence this same. These actions and positions are strongly influenced by the social and political identity that this country has developed.
The objective of this essay is to discover how this identity arose and as based on this, the behaviors of both Canadians and their government are molded.
To start with our analysis we must first define that it is the "identity" and within this we find personal identity and national identity;You are both impact on the identity of the State.
Identity of the individual
Each person has an identity;The word "identity" can be interpreted in various ways, as in the legal sense, but the identity that you want to expose in this work is identity as a social construct, in this case this construct is based on beliefs, experiences and formto perceive the world of the person in question. Many aspects can influence the identity of a person like the region in which he lives, his family, his education and even his tastes.
In his book In Sources of The Self: The Making of the Modern Identity Charles Taylor says that people normally seek their identity in the question who am I am? This question means that it is of vital importance for the subject;exemplifies this with oxygen that is vital for a person, but it is not part of their identity. Thus begins to put restrictions in the sense that they are so important for identity. Taylor concludes that identity is formed from values, commitments, so it is good or valuable, what should be done and what is not;This implies that identity is a moral code with a set of moral principles, purposes or goals that a person uses as a guide or a frame of reference for their actions. (Taylor, Source of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity, Page. 47,1992)
National identity
National identity has its origin in European societies during the French Revolution;Thinkers like Jacques Rousseau and Johann Gottlieb contributed largely to the formulation of this concept.
National identity is a social conscience that gives a sense of belonging to the individual and their community with the State. This union arises from a common story and sharing cultural, social, historical and philosophical features. Through these features, individuals identify each other as part of the same nation or people.
National identity should not be confused with nationalism that is loyalty and commitment to the interests of a nation.
State identity
States constitute the structures of the social reality of international politics through intersubjective beliefs. The ideational processes between the states involve their identities, in turn these structures constitute the actors by defining their goals and roles in the international system, and therefore their identities.
These identities tell the actors (states) who they are and what interests they have, provides the actors with a method to predict the behavior of others and provide a framework of action and behavior. Identities arise from the relationship and interaction with other actors in institutional contexts both internationally and domestic.
The identity of the State seems to be conditioned by the absence of an authority in the international system;In the event that there was an authority in the international system that dictated rules and values for all states, their identities would cease to be relevant since everyone would be guided by the same ideals.
The identity of the State is conditioned by the implicit assumption that the State is different from the domestic society on which it supposedly has influence. This differentiation enrolls the State as the only place of authority within a policy composed of a multitude of other agents, individual or collective, and makes it possible to describe the relations between the State and society in terms of conflict and harmony. Seen from the external and international perspective, the State appears as a unified whole marked by its sovereignty and individualized through reciprocal recognition by other similar entities.
The State has two identities in a certain way: identity towards its population, which is how domesticly perceived and the international identity that is how it is perceived in the international political system.
Cultural identity
Cultural identity is the combination of values, beliefs, traditions and the way in which they behave. Cultural identity is the sense of belonging to a certain social group and is a criterion to differentiate itself from collective otherness. Thus, an individual can identify with any or some of the cultural contents of a social group. This is significant to understand the concept of cultural identity from within the same apparently homogeneous group there are several identities, since each of its members identifies with several other members within this group.
Cultural identity can be composed of several cultures, creating multiculturalism. Multiculturalism exists when people accept and encourage many cultures to prosper in a society. Multiculturalism can lead to many great results, including racial and ethnic harmony, which simply means that people of different origins get along together. Living with and accepting different cultures helps us understand and discourage hate and violence. As a small example, Canada officially became a multicultural society in 1971 when the government began to recognize the value and dignity of Canadians of all races and ethnic groups, all languages and all religions. The Canadian government defines how to “ensure that all citizens maintain their identities, take pride in their ancestors and have a sense of belonging."
Developing
In the 1960s in Quebec, in the French Canada, ‘the silent revolution’ of discontent resulted in the creation of the Royal Bilingual and Body -Buluralism Commission (the B&B Commission). The commission said that the non -English and non -French in Canada were acquiring greater importance. The result of the commission’s work was that although bilingualism was true in Canada, multiculturalism was a better description of Canadian reality than bicycleuralism. By recognizing this reality, on October 8, 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced the new Federal Government of ‘Multiculturalism within a bilingual framework’. The federal government announced that although there are only two official languages in Canada, there are many cultural groups and are worthy of recognition. Following this policy, in the 1970s, when the discussions turned towards a letter of rights and freedoms, it recognized the multicultural reality of Canada and multiculturalism became part of the constitutional character of Canada.
There are several levels in multiculturalism in Canada according to Andy Semotiuk. First, when it is understood as a description of the country’s cultural reality, Canada was always, it is now and will always be multicultural. That is, Canada is formed by English, French, native, Irish, Scottish, German and Ukrainian ethnocultural communities, etc. In other words, politics recognized Canada as a multicultural country, but did not speak of ‘multicultural groups’ in Canada. That was because there are no multicultural groups in Canada, only ethnocultural communities. It is distinguished not so much by a geographical base, but by a sense of belonging, an identification with it by its members. For example, in the Ukrainian community there are Catholics, Orthodox, Baptists, Anglicans, Muslims and Jews. There are white, black and brunette individuals. There are men, women and LGBT. The disabled are and there are older people. They all live and thrive in the Ukrainian community in Canada. Other ethnocultural communities are exactly the same. Multiculturalism recognizes and celebrates this reality that seeks to integrate, but not assimilate, to immigrants and native members of ethnic-cultural communities in the cultural mosaic of Canada.
Second, there is a government policy. Here we see the Charter of Rights and Freedom.
Over the years multiculturalism in Canada has been one of the main factors that have influenced the formation of the identity of this country;As González mentions (2014, p. 198) "(…), multiculturalism has been interwoven in Canadian life and is recognized as a fundamental characteristic of the identity of that country and its national heritage (…)". This process has been influenced by endless factors that over time have established the identity of this country in international society.
The diversity in Canadian culture is one of the identity characteristics of this country, because of this multiculturalism has had a great influence on Canada’s foreign policy;As Esparza (2017) says multiculturalism in Canada from the beginning focused on the integration of different cultures in the country;So the inclusion of migrant cultures has been one of the basis of their political and cultural identity.
The State for its part plays a primary role in the approach and formation of the country’s identity;So Gutiérrez (2003) mentions in an article called the contribution of Canada’s foreign policy to the construction of a pan-channel identity the importance of social and political construction by the State in relation to its identity, mentions that theState must form a social "imaginary" composed of ideas and principles that transmit a feeling of common identity.
As mentioned above, Canada’s multicultural policy has been one of the factors that have promoted through equality the formation of the identity of this country;According to González (2014), this policy seeks through racial, social and cultural diversity the recognition and understanding of Canadian multiculturalism, promoting the egalitarian participation of people and communities, recognizing the importance of different regions for the development of the country andpromoting an inclusive and respectful participation of political, social, economic and cultural institutions in the decisions of the Nation.
Throughout Canada’s history, it has been a receiver from different cultures from various parts of the world, immigration has involved an important process for not only cultural development, but also political and social economic of this nation. According to Esparza (2017), the Canadian society has developed a mixture of indigenous, colonial and immigrant cultures from other regions, so this country is more open to multiculturalism since it has never been culturally homogeneous.
Although the characteristics of the Canadian identity have been formed mainly from a political framework, it is important to identify the relationship of such identity with the international interests of this nation;To this Dfait (2000, p. 38) mentioned that:
[…] Canada is a cosmopolitan country with economic, cultural and security interests that expand through the globe. It is also a compassionate country, with values that are based on its foreign policy, which is supported by diplomatic capacities, defense forces, development assistance and civil society.
Likewise, one of the current qualities on Canadian identity and politics is its multilateralism that involves the influence and Canadian role at the international level, according to Kinsman (2007) the influence of Canadian multilateralism is mainly reflected in its international trade, inIts payment systems, as well as in its institutions to guarantee peace and security, so that multilateralism reflects Canadian interests with respect to its allies and partners.
Currently, the conception of Canadian identity is reflected in the same way through its foreign policy, through multilateralism exposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, some of Canadian international policies are expressed, as Robertson (2017) Canada mentions, seeks to re -fallInternational matters through support and leadership interventions. He also mentions that in the Canadian government the effective management of pluralism is necessary for good governance through the sense of identity that demonstrates how this country is perceived by the rest of the world.
Theoretical approach (constructivism)
Constructivism is a theory that suggests that human beings build knowledge and meaning through their experiences, encompassing the social, economic, cultural and political sphere.
Since governments and states are formed by human beings and their decisions directly influence their actions, constructivism can help us decipher the identities of the states and therefore help us understand their behavior.
Canada, being an openly multicultural state, molds its identity to the outside and the interior based on the different identities formed through the different cultures, religions and ethnicities of the individuals who inhabit the Canadian territory, as explained by the theory of constructivism. This diversity has directly influenced Canada be represented as a culturally open and interior open state of its country, both socially and politically, and has won a good international image.
This identity construction has been strongly reinforced since the mandate of Pierre Trudeu and has remained until today.
This identity also reinforces its image of Middle Power by making it more involved in human rights issues, environmental sustainability, diplomacy and shock reduction between third states, in addition to its strong support for the institutions that govern the international system.
Conclusions
The Canadian identity has been built based on its multiculturalism and has been reflected in all aspects, both social and political, within and exterior of the country.
In the international system he acts as a mediator, a defender and a promoter of multiculturalism.
This identity has won a good image in the international system that inspires confidence in other states, in addition to giving it the margin to bring government actions that, if not having this good reputation they would be reproached, such as selling weapons or allowing mining corporations to exploit resourcesof other states with great environmental damages.
The political and social process through which Canada has goneidentity with which this country is recognized in the international system.
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