Canada's National Identity

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Philip Resnick's essay on the European influences, both historical and contemporary, that have helped shape Canada's political and social culture. The paper explains how he argues that instead of using the United States as the model of comparison when discussing Canadian national identity, Canadians should look to their European counterparts with whom they share many similarities. The paper labels Resnick as a major voice in the debate on Canadian unity and nationhood.

From the Paper:

"What makes a text worthy of such thorough analysis, requiring the full literary energies, of over one hundred and fifty students? The answer becomes quite clear from the onset of reading Philip Resnick's essay on the Eurpean influences, both historical and contemporary, that have helped shape Canada's political and social culture. The European Roots of Canadian Identity is a thought provoking and in fact quite convincing essay on the question that will probably haunt our national psyche indefinitely (perhaps a defining national feature in itself): the question of Canadian identity. Resnick, a staunch Canadian nationalist, is this country's main proponent of Euro-Canadianism."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cooper, Barry. The Dominion Institute. 20 Oct. 2006 <www.greatquestions.com>.
• Dougherty, Jude. "Does National Identity Matter?" World and I. Vol. 19. March 2004.
• Huntington, Samuel. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.
• LaSelva, Samuel. Moral Foundations of Canadian Federalism. Toronto: McGill Queen's University Press, 1996.
• Resnick, Philip. Letters to a Quebecois Friend. Montreal: McGill-Queen's, 1990.

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