BY EUGENE W. PLAWIUK
The Nation-State came into being in Europe in the 19th century. It was born in blood and fire of revolution and war. The Napoleonic wars were seen as wars of Nation building both for France and for those countries she conquered. Napoleon was viewed as a liberator, until his troops overstayed their welcome.
One of Napoleons generals was notorious as a French Nationalist. He did not take the 'little general's' long view that French troops were liberating the oppressed peoples under the thumb of colonialism. The General, whose name was Chauvin, looked on the non-French population as servants for his troops and his political aspirations. We know him today because he gave his name to the word 'Chauvinism'.
Nationalism is chauvinism, and in some cases it is full blown racism. Hence the radical dictum espoused by Karl Marx at the end of the last century was to exhort the working class to unite internationally because they had no country. Their interests were not the narrow interests of this or that nation state but of world wide humanity.
Of course we are now in the post-modern age. We have left all that "old left wing " stuff behind us, as we move into the neo-conservative age of the new right wing. Unfortunately this so called new age is the same old 19th century right wing thinking that gave us the Napoleonic wars, World War I and of course Mussolini and Hitler. It is also the thinking that is currently all the rage in Boznia, and in Zhironovski's vision of the great Russian State.
In Canada we have seen the ugly face of Nationalism and chauvinism arise during the recent Quebec referendum vote. Lucien Bouchard, touted as a real statesman, talked about how Quebecois women were responsible for 'maintaining the white race' in Quebec. He managed to combine racism with sexism, amazingly without losing his superstar stature.
Not so for Mr. Parizeau who firmly planted his foot in his mouth by claiming that the 'No' side won because of 'money and the ethnic vote'. While everyone on the Sovereignist side backpedaled, Mr. Parizeau held his ground, not apologizing for his remarks merely resigning.
What is behind this is the separatist/nationalist sentiment in Quebec that the only genuine Quebecois is the 'old families'. Like American's who arrived on the Mayflower, this belief held by many in Quebec is that only 'pure' Francophones, those who can trace their origins back 400 years are 'real Quebecois'. Parizeau and Bouchard didn't make unfortunate gaffs, they were appealing to the racist and sexist core of nationalism.
Those in the rest of Canada should not feel smug. While our nationalists wrapped themselves in flags and flew cut-rate air miles to Quebec on the Friday before the referendum to say; NON, the day after the referendum Quebec was being called a province of whiners, always demanding more. What did they want. Even during the referendum debate in English Canada, the attitude of some was; let them go. Or if they do vote yes then good riddance, they have too much already.
The politicians like Klein, Manning and Harris were already Monday night to talk cynically promote their own agenda's. Quebec had voted for change, for a decentralized Federal system. The gimme, gimme, gimme, was not only being heard from the soverignist but from the greedy provincial Tories and federal Reform party as well.
Unfortunately behind the concept of decentralization lays the real agenda of Canada's neo-conservatives. Far more dangerous than Quebec separatism is the ideology that says Quebec is one province of ten, and what ever they get every other province should get as well. Decentralization, devolution of Federal powers, would mean that Canada would be open for business, unfortunately it would be a fire sale and the buyer would be America.
Separatism, sovereignty is a historical fact, overlooked in English Canadian history books that say the Wolf beat Montcalm at the plains of Abraham. In reality there are three Canada's: the French Canada, the British colony that filled with expatriates terrified of the American Revolution and the Native Canadians who seceded their land rights but not their political rights to the British and French.
Quebec is a separate nation. It is not just one province amongst many. Given the challenge the referendum result poses we could form a new real federation if we were willing to accept that fact and deal with it. It would also allow us the opportunity to change Canadian politics in a positive direction. Making it more democratic than the British Parliamentary system we inherited as a colony of Great Britain. We should challenge our politicians, our neighbors and co-workers to really think what kind of social democracy we want. Proportional representation would be a start, abolishing the senate would help, and recognizing collective rights as well as individual rights is a historical fact in Canada. We are not Americans, which is something that the neo-conservatives keep forgetting.
And beware of the politicians that pick fights with the Federal government, it's a smoke screen to cover-up for their failures at home. Lougheed did it, Getty did and now Klein is doing it.
If the Federal government continues to decentralize its functions, playing into the hands of Preston Manning and the right wing, we can kiss our democracy good bye. We will have no rights, no services and higher taxes.
Perhaps a separate Quebec and a new political reality in Canada would allow us to see new possibilities beyond the old grudges and acrimony. Certainly it would end this senseless chauvinism and racism once and for all. Finally we could get on with the bigger issue at hand; why capitalism is failing to provide full employment, fair wages and a social safety net while reaping record profits.
NATIONALISM,CHAUVINISM AND THE QUEBEC REFERENDUM is the work and sole property of Eugene W. Plawiuk.
All rights are reserved. Except where otherwise indicated it is © Copyright 1996 Eugene W. Plawiuk.
You may save it for offline reading, but no permission is granted for printing it or redistributing it either in whole or in part. Requests for republication rights can be made to the author at:
"ewplawiuk@geocities.com"
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