How Does Globalization Affect Canadian Identity

1418 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Multiculturalism effects on Canadian society

“Canada embraces globalization because we are the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity.” -M. McLuhan

According to the google dictionary, the word “identity” is defined as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” Globalization can be categorized into its three dimensions economic, political and social globalization and one must incorporate these three to truly determine the role that globalization plays in Canadian identity.

The source given is a quote by Marshall Mcluhan, a right wing conservative, Canadian professor, philosopher and public intellectual. Looking at the source it is easy to spot that Mcluhan stressed the idea of having an “identity”. Therefore, deeming it as a key asset for every country.
He believed that Canada, as a whole embraces globalization, with the reason being that we are the only nation in the world that does not have a clear identity.
Albeit, some may blame Canada’s lack of identity due to its encouragement of multiculturalism and diversity, it is owing more to the Canadian government’s effort to silence and assimilate its native peoples at its early days and the belief that Canada does not only have one identity that ties us together and classifies us as “Canadians”.

Opinions/perspectives in general, are very subjective and …show more content…

The political aspect of globalization involves laws made with other countries to benefit one another for mutual security. A fitting example of this would be The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO). It is an intergovernmental organization founded for the purpose of a military alliance for overall safety of the countries involved. This allows the countries involved to become more interconnected and this might be the main aspect that concerns people and organizations against

Show More
Related

  • A Comparison of Quebec to the Rest of Canada

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Quebec is in Canada, a majority of Quebecers do not identify with the national identity of Canada. Both societies create a sense of identity as well as nationalism (Hiller, 295). Hiller mentions two approaches to assessing Canadian identity; the unitary approach and the segmentalist approach (Hiller, 277). The unitary approach suggests that society consists of people who regardless of their ethnic back ground, identify as belonging to the national society, while the segmentalist approach concentrates on groups and communities that share racial, linguistic, occupational, or cultural similarities (Hiller, 28). While most Anglophones are more unitary or pan-Canadian, Quebec heavily identifies with the segmentalist approach. This dissimilarity of identity perspective may be problematic for the country, at the same time however, it can also be viewed as a struggle where contradictory parties find a way to compromise and reshape Canadian society together (Hiller, 277). Canada’s former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau made it his objective to unite Quebec with the rest of Canada. In 1969 Trudeau’s government implemented Bill C-120, otherwise known as the Official Language act, which made French an...

    Read More

  • Negotiating Differences Into A Canadian Interracial Relationship By Bina Mehta And Kevin Spooner

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    When asking some of my friends why they would often say that their families all still spoke their native language or that they lived in a community which a lot of people still spoke the language as well. This is why it’s hard to describe a Canadian identity. We are a very diverse country that celebrates differences. I don’t think there is one Canadian Identity, I think everyone has their own that is influenced by the many different cultural identities that we celebrate in

    Read More

  • Changing Canadian Identities in the 20th Century

    2222 Words  | 5 Pages

    Is Canada a nation or has its control just switched empirical hands? As Professor Hutcheson asked, did Canada go from "Colony to Nation or Empire to Empire?" This question has greatly influenced Canada's changing identity since her birth as a British colony with Confederation in 1867 to the present day. The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the shifting Canadian identities between the years 1890 to 1960. The objective is to illustrate Canada's transforming identity by using the novels The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan, and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies and to connect the stories of each of these works of fiction to the varying political, economic, and social issues of their times. Each book is written by a prominent author, and portrays an accurate reflection of the demanding political, economic, and social concerns throughout the late nineteen and first half of the twentieth century of Canadian history. All of the novels reflect Canada's peripheral view of the world, as opposed to a central point of view, because throughout its history Canada has always been perceived as a secondary player. As George Grant says in his literary piece Lament for a Nation, Canada is "a branch plant society" , meaning Canada is controlled by another power. The essential question is where has Canada's loyalties traditionally lay and how has this shaped the Canadian identity. The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, written in 1904 reflects a very British influenced Canada. At this time, Canada is still a British colony under British rule, and the people of Canada are very content to consider themselves British. The novel predominately ill...

    Read More

  • Expo 67 and National Identity

    2116 Words  | 5 Pages

    Lister Sinclair’s pamphlet Change Comes to Canada was distributed at the Canadian Government Pavilion during Expo 67. Sinclair looks at the meaning of the name Canada. She analyses common points in people’s daily lives such as the meaning of ‘our home and native land,’ Canadian history, Canadian resources, transportation, climate and culture that tie each Canadian together. She claims that “every Canadian who thinks about Canada has his own idea about the meaning of that dream.” She argues that there is no actual national identity but individual identities that made up our national identity. She challenges the questions related to a national identity. It is interesting that something that questions the national identity would be distributed at Expo 67; but, it provides in...

    Read More

  • Canada And Canada's Identity

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    The culture of Canada refers to the shared values, attitudes, standards, and beliefs that are a representative of Canada and Canadians. Throughout Canada's history, its culture has been influenced by American culture because of a shared language, proximity, television and migration between the two countries. Over time, Canadian-American relations have helped develop Canada’s identity during the years 1945-1982; thus introducing changing social norms, media and entertainment. In support of this, due to the United States being approximately 9.25 times larger in population and having the dominant cultural and economic influence, it played a vital role in establishing Canada’s identity. With Canada being its neighbour, naturally, the United States would influence their way of life upon Canada.

    Read More

  • Canadian Culture And Identity Essay

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    Canadians have come along way in their culture and identity. Canadians have participated in multiple wars and battles that have shaped our country and the people that live in this country. But it’s not just the violence what shaped our country but the people and traditions that originated outside of Canada and was brought here. European, British and French cultures and tradition have all influenced Canada’s culture and identity. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02). Immigrants from all over the world have in the passed contributed to the way we view Canada and because of that we live in a safe, mosaic, multicultural country. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02).There have also been the First Nations people who started Canada’s good reputation and because of them we have accomplished everything that we have done today. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02).

    Read More

  • The Government of Canada and Multiculturalism

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Multiculturalism” entered public speech in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Canada that focused on unique cultural diversity, nationalities, and ethnicity across the nation. Multiculturalism and Immigration are important factors in the development of Canada to attain a strong multicultural example of economic stability, social and political growth which leads to the emergence of Canada’s identity and culture.

    Read More

  • Comparing Canada and America

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    Canada’s own identity starts with our remarkable sense of culture and customs. For the native peoples, the Canadian identity stretches thousands of years into the search of struggles to retain elements of their ancient culture. From a colonial perspective, the traditions which surface in Canadian culture seem to be born of an earlier time, of different origins and places, of old-fashioned rituals, and customs. Unlike the United States, its senior neighbor, Canada’s aged-like identity is more reserved and skillful, unwilling to commit it self to anything specific. Within each region of Canada-

    Read More

  • The American Cultural Invasion of Canada

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    “ Canada 's national obsession seems to be its own identity.” For many years Canada has feared the increasing influence of its North American neighbors on its culture - the United States . It has become a matter of growing concern for the people of power and influence in Canada to maintain their separate cultural identity and to promote their own cultural norms. Gaetan Tremblay presents his views on this topic and does this from the perspective of a person living and working in Quebec.

    Read More

  • Essay On Canada Globalization

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Canadian government’s move toward globalization is creating a level playing field for the Canadian economy and the culture by closing the gap of trade barriers and opening up the market, thereby making Canada a more industrialized and multicultural society. Globalization, the term is defined as the interactions among people of different nations through international trade and communication integration. This approach is unlocking the nationalistic perspectives to broader outlook, thus encouraging multiculturalism as well as linking ties among the nations.

    Read More

  • Canadian Identity

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first thing we should examine is what exactly is meant by “strong national identity”. A very good example of strong national identity is the U.S.. I doubt there is a man on this planet who is not familiar with the U.S.. People immediately recognize their flag, and most people can tell you quite a bit about them. The same is true of Canada, and what do they know of Canada? In 1995 U.S. President Bill Clinton stated his view of Canada in a speech where he declared, “Canada has shown the world how to balance freedom with compassion and tradition with innovation, in your efforts to provide health care to all your citizens, to treat senior citizens with the dignity and respect they deserve...”(Canada Today 9). We were also rated first in the UN’s 1992 “Human Development Index” (9).

    Read More

  • Cultural Pluralism In Canada

    1937 Words  | 4 Pages

    Canada’s identity is constantly changing through immigration and the mixing of cultures. The changes in fact, are truly astonishing. The rates of immigrants entering the country are far higher than the rate of canadians being born within the country. Close to 1 in every 6th people are immigrants. Immigrants are not only a big part of canada, but they are also changing the canadian culture.

    Read More

  • Canadian Identity In Marilyn Dumont's This Land Is, My Dance

    1693 Words  | 4 Pages

    Identity is a large concept with many factors. It is an amalgamation of personality, mannerisms, moral standing, spiritual or religious beliefs, ethnicity and/or culture, but it is often thought of as a “general sense of self”. One cannot put the “Canadian Identity” to any specific definition due to the number of variables that shape an individual’s sense of self, and the vast differences among individual people’s lives, due to the diversity among the Canadian citizens. There are many ways to be Canadian, it is almost absurd to think that all Canadians in all their different geographical locations, different families and communities, different jobs and religions and cultural practices, would experience the “Canadian Identity” in the same way.

    Read More

  • Why Do We Celebrate Canada

    429 Words  | 1 Pages

    Canadian identity means to have the role of recognizing the cultural diversity and human rights as well as the acknowledgement of symbolism. Although there may be people who have settled in Canada before the country was formed, it

    Read More

  • Globalization Essay

    2027 Words  | 5 Pages

    Globalization affects this world and the people of this world in many ways. It is the idea of making the entire world like a single country.

    Read More

More about How Does Globalization Affect Canadian Identity

Open Document