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Introduction.

Article Excerpt
How do we define Canada? What does it mean to be a Canadian? The articles in this edition of Textual Studies in Canada provide an unorthodox set of approaches to these questions in ascertaining different aspects of our (inter-/intra-) national identity as Canadians. For Canada, like few other countries, the issues of preserving, enhancing or creating a national identity resonates with passionate debate. Whether social programs, federalism, trade agreements, cultural activities, immigration, or foreign policy decisions, often the debates in Canada are magnified by reference to our sense of identity. The Canadian identity tends to be perceived as fragile, always imperiled unless the federal government treads cautiously in addressing the forces that may overwhelm some delicate sense of unity and collective purpose. Whereas Canadian politics remain infused with these concerns, the articles in this collection offer a diverse examination of many aspects of Canada through the eyes of "outsiders." These examinations were derived from the presentations at a conference entitled "Visions of Canada from Abroad, "hosted by the Canadian Studies Program at the University College of the Cariboo in the fall of 2003. To understand the debate over the Canadian identity, we offer a brief reflection on the recent intellectual roots of the questions posed above.

Often the debate over the Canadian identity remains shaped by parameters established in the past, most often characterized by colloquial descriptions to establish the essential ingredients of being a Canadian. This is often combined with comparisons as to how "we are not like" our powerful neighbors to the south, with the whole exercise marked by a sense of foreboding given certain trends such as foreign investment and privatization. All three of these qualities were perhaps best expressed by George Grant during the 1960s, in Iris classic work Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism. On the formation and character of Canada, Grant offered a parochial characterization of Canada and Canadian life, but affirmed its virtues. For Grant, the conservative tradition behind Canada established a political order that was not only different from the United States, but superior...

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