Who do we think we are? Book - Softcover

Robin Higham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0889701326 ISBN 13: 9780889701328

Publisher: Invenire, 2009

Synopsis

Who do we think we are? brings contemporary academic research regarding the governance of communities of diversity, down off the shelves in the universities and think tanks and into the public conversation space. The book's unorthodox format - fictional conversations between immigrant and native-born Canadians- makes the ideas and insights being generated by researchers and observers, accessible and even entertaining for students and non-experts of all ages. What accounts for Canada s apparent success at peaceful co-existence in this country of such remarkable human diversity? Is there a unique Canadian "modus vivendi" which keeps us talking and accommodating rather than ruling, deciding and excluding? And what about social cohesion? Is the Canadian model sustainable? Can we keep it all together when there is so little to bind citizens of such diverse backgrounds and interests? Is it even a good idea to talk about it? Key Ideas "Who do we think we are?" is more likely to provoke discussion than to close the file on this key issue for governing in contemporary Canada. So read it and laugh. Or weep. Or worry about who you think we have become. Or celebrate it. But since the variety of cultures, languages, religions, identities and ways of doing things in Canada is not going away, we all had better loosen up and get more accustomed to the diversity-speak employed by the players in this short course in peaceful coexistence amongst citizens who have no choice but to live together constructively... and love it!

About this title

About the Author:

Robin Higham spent 35 years as a diplomat in the Canadian foreign service. Abroad, he had both trade and political postings in Africa, Asia, USA and Europe. He served as Canada s Permanent Representative to the UN agriculture and food aid agencies, the FAO and WFP, and Ambassador to Morocco. On assignments in Ottawa, he was Director General for International Trade Policy at Agriculture Canada and then on return to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Director General for Personnel Operations and finally, Director General for Canada s International Cultural and Academic Relations. He is now recycled as a Senior Fellow of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa and Senior Partner in Invenire. Robin frequently organises conferences and seminars which involve working jointly with the University of Ottawa and the foreign diplomatic community in Ottawa as well as with federal government departments and agencies. Several of those initiatives have focussed on subjects dealt with in this book; the governance of communities of human diversity.

Review:

This book, subtitled, "Canada's reasonable and less reasonable accommodation debates" tackles an important and sensitive question in many western countries. That question can be phrased as, "how can we preserve and sustain the national character and unity, while accommodating demands by new immigrants for accommodating their cultural values?" Or, from the other side, "when should we stop demanding that newcomers unreasonably assimilate in the dominant culture?" Each country seems to find a different line in the sand in this debate, and arguably there is something to learn from the Canadian experience. This book has an interesting and innovative approach to these issues, rather like saying, "the good news is that we continue to discuss this" but "the bad news is we will continue to discuss this." --David Stevenson

About this edition

• Publisher: Invenire
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0889701326
• ISBN 13: 9780889701328
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 162
• Illustrator: Isabelle Melancon