I mean, Blanchet isn't really wrong-most countries are artificial, Canada included, but the leader of a major political party shouldn't say that publicly-unless Blanchet is willing to unilaterally declare Quebec Independence, of course.
I mean, Blanchet isn't really wrong-most countries are artificial, Canada included, but the leader of a major political party shouldn't say that publicly-unless Blanchet is willing to unilaterally declare Quebec Independence, of course.
All countries are artificial, but some are more artificial than others...
Pretty much every country is a "mixed multitude" as the bible describes the Exodus from Egypt, but some have a unfiying national story, like the Exodus from Egypt, while others are just some lines drawn in a smoked-filled room at a 19th century peace conference.
Unity based on ethnicity or religion is very common for nations, though, so what your or I as Americans might consider important is not at all necessarily the most common impetus for nation-forming nor the most common cause for national unity. The U.S. is unusual to the extent that it is based on an idea or philosophy and not purely on Anglo white supremacy.
Even within Europe, having a national idea of some sort tends to be better than just an ethnic state. Take France for example: "Libert├й, Egalit├й, Fraternit├й" is a much more unifying message then "we're a bunch of people who speak a vaguely similar language and have some shared culture and history." That's how you get a Yugoslavia.
He couldn't. The PQ would be the ones to call a new referendum, which I don't think is something they're campaigning on, and they would have to win the provincial elections next year first.
Bloc Qu├йb├йcois (BQ) is the organization that contests federal elections while Parti Qu├йb├йcois (PQ) contests provincial elections. Politicians will move between the two, including Blanchet, but they are nominally separate orgs.
I mean, Blanchet isn't really wrong-most countries are artificial, Canada included, but the leader of a major political party shouldn't say that publicly-unless Blanchet is willing to unilaterally declare Quebec Independence, of course.
I mean, all countries are artificial, but I don't think that's the point Blanchet meant to make.
All countries are artificial, but some are more artificial than others...
Pretty much every country is a "mixed multitude" as the bible describes the Exodus from Egypt, but some have a unfiying national story, like the Exodus from Egypt, while others are just some lines drawn in a smoked-filled room at a 19th century peace conference.
How a country starts its existence doesn't necessarily make it more or less real afterwards.
But it may make it more politically cohesive.
Is more important that there's a unifying narrative though than any "real" point of unity, especially not one based on ethnic or religious identities.
Sure, narratives help, and Quebec definitely has one.
Unity based on ethnicity or religion is very common for nations, though, so what your or I as Americans might consider important is not at all necessarily the most common impetus for nation-forming nor the most common cause for national unity. The U.S. is unusual to the extent that it is based on an idea or philosophy and not purely on Anglo white supremacy.
Even within Europe, having a national idea of some sort tends to be better than just an ethnic state. Take France for example: "Libert├й, Egalit├й, Fraternit├й" is a much more unifying message then "we're a bunch of people who speak a vaguely similar language and have some shared culture and history." That's how you get a Yugoslavia.
Considering what party heтАЩs from he might want to. Though that тАЬdreamтАЭ more or less died with Jacques Parizeau
He couldn't. The PQ would be the ones to call a new referendum, which I don't think is something they're campaigning on, and they would have to win the provincial elections next year first.
Bloc Qu├йb├йcois (BQ) is the organization that contests federal elections while Parti Qu├йb├йcois (PQ) contests provincial elections. Politicians will move between the two, including Blanchet, but they are nominally separate orgs.