Transcending Transcending Diversity:Diversity:

Envisioning Envisioning Shared CitizenshipShared Citizenship© Joanna Anneke Rummens© Joanna Anneke Rummens

Culture, Community and Health StudiesCulture, Community and Health StudiesFaculty of Medicine, University of TorontoFaculty of Medicine, University of TorontoCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,

TorontoTorontoanneke.rummens@utoronto.caanneke.rummens@utoronto.ca

DDiivveerrssiitty y in Canadain Canada

Almost Almost 250,000 250,000 new immigrants and refugees arrive each yearnew immigrants and refugees arrive each year 2.2 million newcomers2.2 million newcomers this past decade - highest inflow this this past decade - highest inflow this

centurycentury

Prior to 1961, Prior to 1961, 90%90% European-borns -> European-borns -> 25%25% between 1981- between 1981-19911991

Of the 1.8 million immigrants who arrived between 1991-2001:Of the 1.8 million immigrants who arrived between 1991-2001: 58%58% from Asia (includes the Middle East) from Asia (includes the Middle East) 20%20% from Europe from Europe 11%11% from the Caribbean, Central and South America from the Caribbean, Central and South America 8%8% from Africa from Africa 3%3% from the United States from the United States

18.4%18.4% of the population is of the population is foreign-bornforeign-born, the highest level in , the highest level in 70 years70 years

18%18% of Canadians speak of Canadians speak neither English or Frenchneither English or French as a first language as a first language

Increasing proportion of newcomers speak a Increasing proportion of newcomers speak a non-official languagenon-official language at at home home

73%73% of immigrants between 1991-2001 members of of immigrants between 1991-2001 members of visible minority visible minority groupsgroups

Canada’s visible minority population will likely account for Canada’s visible minority population will likely account for 1/5 of the 1/5 of the total population by 2016total population by 2016

249249 different different ethno-cultural originsethno-cultural origins indicated in 2001 Census results indicated in 2001 Census results

38%38% of the population reported of the population reported multiple ethnic originsmultiple ethnic origins in 2001 in 2001

(2001 Canadian Census)(2001 Canadian Census)

Traditional viewTraditional view of Canadian society - “ of Canadian society - “Three ForcesThree Forces”:”:

two “two “founding charter groupsfounding charter groups” - English and French” - English and French

the “the “ethnicsethnics” - comprised of subsequent immigrant ” - comprised of subsequent immigrant populations populations

aboriginalaboriginal and First and First NationsNations peoples peoples

Official policyOfficial policy of of bilingualismbilingualism within a within a multiculturalmulticultural frameworkframework

also actual existence of “also actual existence of “nations within nationsnations within nations””

SeekingSeeking Unity Unity withinwithin DDiivveerrssiittyy

Canada’s Canada’s Multiculturalism PolicyMulticulturalism Policy encouragesencourages

strong identification of Canadians with their strong identification of Canadians with their ancestral ethnic group originsancestral ethnic group origins

at the same time, identification withat the same time, identification with Canadian Canadian societysociety

BothBoth are seen as vital to social cohesion are seen as vital to social cohesion

This apparent contradiction This apparent contradiction

gives rise to gives rise to

a number of a number of

important issuesimportant issues … …

FirstFirst, ,

is multiis multiculturalismculturalism - sociocultural pluralism - sociocultural pluralism as opposed as opposed

to political pluralism - compatible with to political pluralism - compatible with national national unityunity??

multi-cultural

Identities

national unity??

‘Italian’

‘Somali’

‘Serb’

‘Vietnamese’

Sense of belonging

as “Canadian’’??

‘Ukrainian’

‘Tamil’

‘Chinese’

‘Haitian’

‘Pakistani’

‘Chilean’ ‘Russian’

Given ddiivveerrssiittyy : How exactly do you

foster a sense of Canadian ‘unityunity’ ?

ethno-ethno-culturalcultural ancestry territorial identification defined according to culturalcultural identity?country of origin national national identity?-> ‘nationalitynationality’’ linguistic identity?

religious identity?Also linguistic, ‘racial’ ‘racial’ identity?and religious differences other ??other ??

Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy sees no Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy sees no incompatibility betweenincompatibility between

the the maintenancemaintenance of of ethno-culturalethno-cultural traditionstraditions and and its expressed its expressed goals of social cohesion and goals of social cohesion and unityunity

HoweverHowever, ,

the actual the actual mechanismmechanism by which to achieve a hither-to by which to achieve a hither-to elusive sense elusive sense

of of national national unityunity seems not yet to have been worked out seems not yet to have been worked out in fullin full

SecondSecond, ,

where and how does where and how does national national identityidentity fit fit in? in?

Given the Policy’s identity trajectory from Given the Policy’s identity trajectory from languagelanguage,, cultureculture, , racerace and and religionreligion to current to current considerations of their respective considerations of their respective intersectionsintersections with with other identity markersother identity markers … …

How exactly do we move from How exactly do we move from

our rather complex our rather complex accommodationaccommodation of diversity of diversity

to the to the social constructionsocial construction of a of a

common common national identitynational identity??

Cultural Identity

‘Racial’ Identity

Religious Identity

Linguistic Identity

Cultural Identity

‘Racial’ Identity

Religious Identity

Linguistic Identity

National Identity??

Indigenous/newcomerIndigenous/newcomer TerritorialTerritorialSocio-economic (class)Socio-economic (class) AgeAge Sexual orientationSexual orientation Dis/abilityDis/ability SexSex LinguisticLinguistic ReligiousReligious ‘‘Racial’Racial’ CulturalCultural

Types of Identity Types of Identity Specific IdentitiesSpecific Identities

national national culturalcultural ‘‘racial’racial’ religiousreligious linguisticlinguistic

ageage (dis)ability(dis)ability sex; gendersex; gender sexual orientation sexual orientation socio-economic (class)socio-economic (class) territorial territorial indigenous/newcomer indigenous/newcomer

-> -> Canadian?Canadian?->-> Haitian, KoreanHaitian, Korean->-> ‘Black,’ ‘Asian,’ ‘White’‘Black,’ ‘Asian,’ ‘White’->-> Christian, Muslim, JewishChristian, Muslim, Jewish->-> francophone, anglophonefrancophone, anglophone

->-> child, teenager, adult, seniorchild, teenager, adult, senior->-> able-bodied, x-challengedable-bodied, x-challenged->-> male/female; man, womanmale/female; man, woman->-> homo-/hetero-/bi-/trans-sexualhomo-/hetero-/bi-/trans-sexual->-> lower, middle, upperlower, middle, upper->-> Quebec, Westerner, Maritimer Quebec, Westerner, Maritimer ->-> aboriginal, immigrant/refugeeaboriginal, immigrant/refugee

“Haitian-Canadian”“female”

“Black’’

“physically-challenged”

“Christian”

“bi-sexual”“francophone”

“adolescent”

“middle class”

“Quebecer”

“third-generation”

ThirdThird, ,

can a policy promoting “can a policy promoting “cultural cultural diversitydiversity within political unitywithin political unity” continue to serve as ” continue to serve as the foundation of a post-modern the foundation of a post-modern nation statenation state ….….

within the within the contextcontext of a new of a new multi-multi-nationalnational world orderworld order characterized by increased characterized by increased economic interdependence, geographical economic interdependence, geographical mobility and information flow?mobility and information flow?

France

Great Britain

Soviet Union

Australia

Japan

China

India

Venezuela

Mexico

United States

Canada

European Union NAFTA

MercosurPacific Rim

Challenges and opportunities of trans-national identities

In brief, the challenge before us is In brief, the challenge before us is

the location and articulation of the location and articulation of

unityunity withinwithin

multiplemultiple dimensions of dimensions of

ddiivveerrssiittyy

FromFrom Cultural Cultural Difference Difference toto Shared CitizenshipShared Citizenship

To-date attempts to achieve To-date attempts to achieve ““unityunity inin ddiivveerrssiittyy ”” have often been stymied by have often been stymied by two two erroneous assumptionserroneous assumptions::

TheThe firstfirst is that while accommodation of is that while accommodation of pluralism may be useful in maintaining social pluralism may be useful in maintaining social order and/or cohesion, order and/or cohesion, uniformityuniformity - defined - defined as “sameness” – is required to ensure a truly as “sameness” – is required to ensure a truly meaningful sense of national meaningful sense of national unityunity

This assumed inherent tension between This assumed inherent tension between unityunity and and diversitydiversity

arises out of a faulty equation: arises out of a faulty equation:

homogeneity (= homogeneity (= uniformityuniformity) ) <<≠>≠> heterogeneity (= heterogeneity (= diversitydiversity))

thereforetherefore

unityunity versusversus ddiivveerrssiittyy

Forgotten is that while Forgotten is that while somesome socially socially salient identifications may serve to salient identifications may serve to differentiatedifferentiate among individuals or groups, among individuals or groups, othersothers seek to establish seek to establish commonalitycommonality and and may therefore be used to may therefore be used to uniteunite

What is critical is the What is critical is the selectionselection and and saliencysaliency of of

the respective identification criteria usedthe respective identification criteria used

The The secondsecond assumption is that assumption is that primary primary culturalcultural and and nationalnational identifications identifications must necessarily must necessarily intersectintersect if a if a meaningful sense of national meaningful sense of national unityunity is to is to be achievedbe achieved

However, these respective identifications However, these respective identifications are actually based on are actually based on quite different quite different

identity criteriaidentity criteria that are, moreover, not that are, moreover, not necessarily mutually exclusivenecessarily mutually exclusive

Cultural identificationsCultural identifications focus on focus on shared history, values, traditions and shared history, values, traditions and lifeways that are usually supported and lifeways that are usually supported and transferred through language transferred through language

In contrast, In contrast, national identificationsnational identifications reflect geographically bound, largely reflect geographically bound, largely autonomous, self-governing political autonomous, self-governing political entitiesentities

IntersectingIntersecting Identities Identities

Japanese Japanese

Cultural Identity

Religious Identity

‘Racial’ Identity

National Identity

OverlappingOverlapping IdentitiesIdentities

“Japanese-”

“Canadian”

National Identity

Cultural Identity

The assumption regarding The assumption regarding necessary intersectionnecessary intersection only holds only holds

true if one remains firmly committed to the notion of true if one remains firmly committed to the notion of

a a nation nation statestate

predicated on the belief in predicated on the belief in

“ “one cultureone culture, one autonomous self-governing , one autonomous self-governing entityentity;”;”

it otherwise readily collapsesit otherwise readily collapses

The crux of the matter is whether we really The crux of the matter is whether we really need to fully share an identifiable Canadian need to fully share an identifiable Canadian cultureculture in order to have a common in order to have a common national national identityidentity as Canadians as Canadians

The answer is The answer is nono: :

Civil societies do not need to be bound Civil societies do not need to be bound

by a complete set of common values, by a complete set of common values,

traditions and shared historytraditions and shared history

What What they they dodo need need::

is member is member allegianceallegiance and and active active commitmentcommitment

to a common politico-economic community that to a common politico-economic community that is is

based on based on shared core values and principlesshared core values and principles

This in turn forms the foundation of a sense of This in turn forms the foundation of a sense of national unitynational unity and social cohesiveness firmly and social cohesiveness firmly rooted rooted

in and expressed throughin and expressed through participatory participatory citizenshipcitizenship

The solution, in other words, is to simply The solution, in other words, is to simply

decouple decouple cultureculture and and nationnation, and to , and to subsequently subsequently

re-define nationre-define nation in terms of in terms of shared shared citizenshipcitizenship

This common citizenship then becomes the This common citizenship then becomes the basis for basis for national national unityunity

and ultimately, in timeand ultimately, in time

a unique a unique national national identityidentity

The true mediation between The true mediation between

unityunity and and ddiivveerrssiittyy

is is

commonalitycommonality - not sameness - not sameness

In the state’s management of cultural, In the state’s management of cultural, linguistic, ‘racial’ and religious linguistic, ‘racial’ and religious pluralismpluralism, , it is ourit is our commonalitycommonality that has sometimes that has sometimes received short shrift received short shrift

What we are then left grappling with is What we are then left grappling with is whatwhat

definesdefines,, supportssupports andand guidesguides us as us as

a unique social, political and economic a unique social, political and economic entityentity

While it remains both constructive and morally While it remains both constructive and morally imperative imperative

to continue to to continue to accommodate diversityaccommodate diversity in the in the interests of interests of

social integration, cohesion, equity and justice … social integration, cohesion, equity and justice …

it is important to it is important to balance balance official recognition of official recognition of differencesdifferences

with with a consideration of a consideration of what we in fact have in what we in fact have in commoncommon

as Canadiansas Canadians

In short,In short,

we need as a polity to move from an at times we need as a polity to move from an at times myopic preoccupation with myopic preoccupation with the various the various ways in which we are all ways in which we are all differentdifferent, to an , to an examination of examination of what we in fact have in what we in fact have in commoncommon and to use this knowledge as the and to use this knowledge as the foundation for a foundation for a participatoryparticipatory shared shared citizenshipcitizenship that both expresses mutual that both expresses mutual commitment and fosters a sense of belongingcommitment and fosters a sense of belonging

An Overarching An Overarching Citizenship Citizenship CharterCharter

In brief, the issue is not so much “what In brief, the issue is not so much “what isis ‘Canadian’?” but rather “what does it ‘Canadian’?” but rather “what does it meanmean to be to be a Canadian?”a Canadian?”

The answer may be found in an The answer may be found in an expressed commitment and allegianceexpressed commitment and allegiance to a sovereign entity called Canada to a sovereign entity called Canada that is firmly founded on: that is firmly founded on:

sharedshared societal values societal values and and enhanced participationenhanced participation in collective in collective

decision-makingdecision-making

What is needed is a What is needed is a Citizenship CharterCitizenship Charter that that both embraces our cultural, linguistic, "racial," both embraces our cultural, linguistic, "racial," and religious differences and and religious differences and transcendstranscends the the various dimensions of diversityvarious dimensions of diversity

Such a Charter would clearly articulate our Such a Charter would clearly articulate our society’s overarching society’s overarching core valuescore values and locate and locate the verythe very responsibilitiesresponsibilities of a common of a common citizenship in our citizenship in our active active commitmentcommitment to them to them

(Rummens 2002)(Rummens 2002)

These These shared valuesshared values include: include: individual freedom of thought and expression individual freedom of thought and expression appreciation and respect for difference appreciation and respect for difference peaceful co-existence peaceful co-existence the rule of law the rule of law pursuit of equality pursuit of equality negotiation and compromise negotiation and compromise support for human rights support for human rights social “safety net" provisions social “safety net" provisions sustainable economic development sustainable economic development

=> all within the context of a parliamentary => all within the context of a parliamentary democracydemocracy

Participatory citizenshipParticipatory citizenship would then be based would then be based on on

an an expressed commitmentexpressed commitment to these existing to these existing core core valuesvalues

as well as a heightened sense of as well as a heightened sense of allegianceallegiance to Canada to Canada rooted in shared rooted in shared responsibilities responsibilities for more truly for more truly

inclusiveinclusive collective decision-making collective decision-making

Enhanced civic participation is critical to the building of Enhanced civic participation is critical to the building of

social capitalsocial capital – bonding, bridging and linking - and – bonding, bridging and linking - and

to the fostering of to the fostering of social trustsocial trust

An explicit, consensual social contract such as aAn explicit, consensual social contract such as aCitizenship CharterCitizenship Charter would move us would move us

beyondbeyond the definition of our the definition of our rights and freedomsrights and freedoms as outlined in the existing Citizenship and as outlined in the existing Citizenship and

Multiculturalism Acts and the Charter of Rights and Multiculturalism Acts and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms … Freedoms …

toto increased public awareness of our increased public awareness of our commonality commonality and active commitment to the and active commitment to the responsibilitiesresponsibilities of a of a

shared citizenshipshared citizenship firmly rooted in firmly rooted in a clearer sense of our a clearer sense of our obligationsobligations to each other to each other

National National unityunity is thus concretely facilitated via a is thus concretely facilitated via a shared citizenshipshared citizenship firmly rooted in a joined sense firmly rooted in a joined sense

of of commonalitycommonality and and collectivitycollectivity

rights and freedomsrights and freedoms

shared values shared values common allegiancecommon allegiance

mutual rights and responsibilitiesmutual rights and responsibilities

within an enhanced within an enhanced participatoryparticipatory framework framework

Indigenous/newcomerIndigenous/newcomer

TerritorialTerritorial

Socio-economic (class)Socio-economic (class)

AgeAge

Sexual orientationSexual orientation Dis/abilityDis/ability

SexSex

LinguisticLinguistic ReligiousReligious ‘‘Racial’Racial’ CulturalCultural

Civic IdentityCivic Identity

National IdentityNational Identity

Shared values and beliefsShared values and beliefs

with interaction -> with interaction -> traditionstraditions

with time -> with time -> common historycommon history

Core Values Core Values

Commitment and Allegiance Commitment and Allegiance

Rights and Responsibilities Rights and Responsibilities

Mutual ObligationsMutual Obligations

Enhanced ParticipationEnhanced Participation

Redefining the Canadian Redefining the Canadian DemosDemos

Shared citizenship need neither begin with a Shared citizenship need neither begin with a common common cultureculture nor require it as a final end- nor require it as a final end-

productproduct

What it What it doesdoes require is a transitional shift require is a transitional shift fromfrom an an exclusiveexclusive focus on multiculturalism focus on multiculturalism

and a renewed diversity discourse and a renewed diversity discourse toto complementarycomplementary discussions regarding discussions regarding

a a transcending transcending citizenshipcitizenship as the basis for as the basis for national national unityunity

and - ultimately - a strong and - ultimately - a strong national identitynational identity

This entails a redefinition of the This entails a redefinition of the Canadian demosCanadian demos understood both as understood both as

a shared sense of a shared sense of peoplehoodpeoplehood

and as a forum for civic debate andand as a forum for civic debate and

collective decision-makingcollective decision-making

It would move Canada beyond an official It would move Canada beyond an official

categorization into four solitudes - English, categorization into four solitudes - English, French, aboriginal and ethnic - based on a French, aboriginal and ethnic - based on a largely essentialist notion of “largely essentialist notion of “culturalismculturalism” ” towards the articulation of towards the articulation of commonalitycommonality more firmly rooted in our shared humanity more firmly rooted in our shared humanity and lived experiencesand lived experiences

Only thenOnly then will a multi-dimensional will a multi-dimensional shared citizenshipshared citizenship within a trans-cultural within a trans-cultural framework be able to contribute not only to framework be able to contribute not only to the goals of the goals of national national unityunity and and identityidentity, , but also to an expanded commitment to but also to an expanded commitment to social equality and freedom of cultural social equality and freedom of cultural expression expression beyondbeyond that originally that originally envisioned within the Multiculturalism Act envisioned within the Multiculturalism Act

The challenge is to first The challenge is to first incorporateincorporate and and then then transcendtranscend the various dimensions of the various dimensions of diversity to focus on a diversity to focus on a common common civic civic national identitynational identity defined in terms of a defined in terms of a shared citizenshipshared citizenship and expressed via and expressed via shared values firmly embedded in notions shared values firmly embedded in notions of of participatoryparticipatory democracydemocracy

This would move us away from an exclusive This would move us away from an exclusive preoccupation with preoccupation with differencedifference rooted in rooted in largely essentialist notion of ‘largely essentialist notion of ‘culturalismculturalism’’

towards the articulation of a towards the articulation of a commonalitycommonality more firmly rooted in more firmly rooted in shared core valuesshared core values and and mutual responsibilitiesmutual responsibilities

Only thenOnly then will a newly-invigorated will a newly-invigorated participatory citizenshipparticipatory citizenship be able to be able to

contribute not only to the goals of contribute not only to the goals of national national unityunity and and identityidentity, but help , but help

transform a “deficiency model” of transform a “deficiency model” of difference to an “asset-building” one difference to an “asset-building” one

better geared to an increasingly better geared to an increasingly transnational, information driven, transnational, information driven,

globalized world orderglobalized world order

Relevant ReferencesRelevant References

Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Conceptualizing Identity and Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Conceptualizing Identity and Diversity: Overlaps, Intersections and Processes.” Diversity: Overlaps, Intersections and Processes.” Canadian Canadian Ethnic Studies. Ethnic Studies. (In press, 2004)(In press, 2004)

Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Overlapping and Intersecting Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Overlapping and Intersecting Identities.” Identities.” Canadian Diversity / DiversitCanadian Diversity / Diversité Canadienneé Canadienne. (In . (In press, December 2003)press, December 2003). .

Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Transcending Diversity: Envisioning Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Transcending Diversity: Envisioning Shared Citizenship.” Shared Citizenship.” Canadian DiversityCanadian Diversity / / DiversitDiversité Canadienneé Canadienne. . Volume 2:1 Spring 2003: pp. 77-78.Volume 2:1 Spring 2003: pp. 77-78.

Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Redefining the Canadian Demos: Joanna Anneke Rummens. “Redefining the Canadian Demos: Towards a Trans-cultural Citizenship Charter.” Towards a Trans-cultural Citizenship Charter.” Canadian IssuesCanadian Issues, , February 2002, pp. 15-18.February 2002, pp. 15-18.