Description
Book SynopsisExplores the question of how a culture is born. The author compares the historical itineraries of New World collectivities, which were driven by freedom and sovereignty, and finds differences as well as commonalities in their formation and evolution. He also considers myths and strategies devised by the elites to unite and mobilize populations.
Trade Review"A masterful work on the evolution of new collectivities and their preoccupations with identity, in which the originality of the thinking and the elegance of the style are matched by extensive research and the topicality of the theme. This plea for comparative history takes a new look at Quebec society and the path it has taken in the world." Governor General's Literary Awards Jury
Table of ContentsPreface to the English Translation vii Translators Note xi Preface xv 1 The Comparative History of New Collectivities and Founding Cultures 3 2 Why Compare Oneself? 25 3 A New Old Country? The Formation and Transformations of Culture and Nation in Quebec 58 4 The Growth of National Consciousness in Mexico and Latin America 148 5 Political Emancipation and National Identity in Australia 182 6 Other Pathways: Canada, New Zealand, and the United States 261 7 Collective Paths, Discursive Strategies: A Model 307 Conclusion 332 Notes 339 Bibliography 369 Index 417
