The global trend of wanting to take their country back
Nov 13, 2016 23:35:01 GMT -4
soul49 likes this
Post by Souriquois on Nov 13, 2016 23:35:01 GMT -4
Canada, touted as an exception to this, is not actually an exception. It's just that the international media doesn't understand Canada.
The night of the US election, I was scared, that with the country next door succumbing to right-wing populism, we were next. As somebody with a degree in Canadian history, I should have known better.
Canadian nationalism is actually very much interwoven with liberalism and pluralism. It is right-wing governments that do what people in other countries accuse "the left" of doing. In fact, Stephen Harper believed our national identity was based on myths (well, in reality, what country's isn't?) and wanted to rewrite that, and reconnect with British links, some on the right even wanted to rename Canada Day "Dominion Day".
I remember myself, when I voted Liberal in the last election, I felt like I was "taking my country back", and a lot of people felt that way. I grew up in a part of the country that has the same socio-economic problems as the "Rust Belt", which voted for Trump. In that sense, I am not much different from Trumpsters, Brexiteers, and supporters of far-right populists across Europe.
My boyfriend, a Conservative, even said I sounded "Trump-like"... though in fairness I (jokingly) said we should have a "total and complete shutdown of Americans and Western Europeans entering Canada until our country's representatives could figure out what the hell is going on".
So this Kellie Leitch, being dubbed "Canada's Donald Trump", will be running against a national identity, and likely won't win (we should still fight her though, don't get complacent).
andrewkurjata.ca/confluence/2016/07/22/make-canada-great/
But what is causing this trend now? And why?
Is it excess capitalism? The speed of information? Globalism? Neoliberalism?
The night of the US election, I was scared, that with the country next door succumbing to right-wing populism, we were next. As somebody with a degree in Canadian history, I should have known better.
Canadian nationalism is actually very much interwoven with liberalism and pluralism. It is right-wing governments that do what people in other countries accuse "the left" of doing. In fact, Stephen Harper believed our national identity was based on myths (well, in reality, what country's isn't?) and wanted to rewrite that, and reconnect with British links, some on the right even wanted to rename Canada Day "Dominion Day".
I remember myself, when I voted Liberal in the last election, I felt like I was "taking my country back", and a lot of people felt that way. I grew up in a part of the country that has the same socio-economic problems as the "Rust Belt", which voted for Trump. In that sense, I am not much different from Trumpsters, Brexiteers, and supporters of far-right populists across Europe.
My boyfriend, a Conservative, even said I sounded "Trump-like"... though in fairness I (jokingly) said we should have a "total and complete shutdown of Americans and Western Europeans entering Canada until our country's representatives could figure out what the hell is going on".
So this Kellie Leitch, being dubbed "Canada's Donald Trump", will be running against a national identity, and likely won't win (we should still fight her though, don't get complacent).
Make Canada Great Again (Trudeau, Trump, and Brexit)
I think you can put the election of Trudeau into the same category as the success of Brexit and the rise of Trump.
“Make America Great Again” and “Canada Is Back” have different outcomes, but the sentiment is that of the exceptionalism of each country, and a throwback to the good old days.
Stances on immigrants, relationship to foreign countries, etc are a contrast to Trump and “Leave”, but Canadian nationalism post-WWII IS contrast to American nationalism, and the nationalism in many countries.
The Canadian brand of nationalism that multiple generations of Canadians grew up was largely created by the Pearson/Trudeau era of government: multiculturalism, bilingualism, peacekeeping, the idea being a moral leader on the world stage, the belief that “the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation.”
The challenge Harper tried to overcome was this version of Canadian identity that was so tied up to Liberal policies- right down to the national anthem, flag, and charter. It’s why you had Conservative MPs insisting on calling Canada Day “Dominion Day” and so much interest in the War of 1812- it was an attempt to reset or at least nudge the Canadian identity towards something that wasn’t created by the Liberals.
Obviously there are huge differences between Trudeau, and Trump, and Brexit, but they all appeal in part to the belief that things used to better. They appeal to a nostalgia for a version of each country that was stronger, more respected, treated its people better. It’s a promise that things were better, once, and after this vote, they will be again- regardless of whether any of that is true.
I think you can put the election of Trudeau into the same category as the success of Brexit and the rise of Trump.
“Make America Great Again” and “Canada Is Back” have different outcomes, but the sentiment is that of the exceptionalism of each country, and a throwback to the good old days.
Stances on immigrants, relationship to foreign countries, etc are a contrast to Trump and “Leave”, but Canadian nationalism post-WWII IS contrast to American nationalism, and the nationalism in many countries.
The Canadian brand of nationalism that multiple generations of Canadians grew up was largely created by the Pearson/Trudeau era of government: multiculturalism, bilingualism, peacekeeping, the idea being a moral leader on the world stage, the belief that “the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation.”
The challenge Harper tried to overcome was this version of Canadian identity that was so tied up to Liberal policies- right down to the national anthem, flag, and charter. It’s why you had Conservative MPs insisting on calling Canada Day “Dominion Day” and so much interest in the War of 1812- it was an attempt to reset or at least nudge the Canadian identity towards something that wasn’t created by the Liberals.
Obviously there are huge differences between Trudeau, and Trump, and Brexit, but they all appeal in part to the belief that things used to better. They appeal to a nostalgia for a version of each country that was stronger, more respected, treated its people better. It’s a promise that things were better, once, and after this vote, they will be again- regardless of whether any of that is true.
andrewkurjata.ca/confluence/2016/07/22/make-canada-great/
But what is causing this trend now? And why?
Is it excess capitalism? The speed of information? Globalism? Neoliberalism?