Canada: The Context Of Globalization, Cultural Security

In the late 20th century, with the deepening of globalization, world cultures have been encountering and clashing in unprecedented width, depth and on unparalleled frequency. National cultural security, which, in essence, is the security of national identity and identification, becomes salient in that period. Globalization is the largest social change that commenced around the 15th century in Europe. Its basic driving force stems from the alternating movements of the expansion and accumulation of universality and speciality. Globalization develops dialectically, turns the world into a single place gradually, and makes it both unified and diversified. Among the consequences of globalization, the appearance of global context and global thinking are of fundamental significance. National identity refers to a process, during which members of national community employ political and cultural mobilization to construct common meaning and value. It implies both cultural and political identity. National identity comes into being within given historical and social situations, and therefore notwithstanding it displays high continuity and stability, it changes with vicissitudes of history and society. The change of national identity itself is not necessarily a negative thing, the crucial criterion lies in whether the change is conducive to the survival and enhancement of national community. The key to the maintenance of national identity is an appropriate balance between cultural identification and political loyalty. In globalization, national identity runs into crisis of legitimacy under the attack from globality and locality. Although other forms of identities still find it difficult to replace national identity, nevertheless in order to be revitalized, it has to listen to the voices from within, and at the same time, watch the larger development from without. This dissertation takes Canada as the case to investigate the difficult situation of national culture against the setting of globalization through both historical and theoretical perspectives, and attempts to find the possible way out.Canadian culture originated from the ancient aboriginal civilization of North America, experienced development in French and British colonial periods, and finally established in the early part of the 20th century. Aboriginal civilization lays the foundation, upon which Canadian culture is able to grow; while French and British colonial cultures transfuse new blood into and further nourish it. Canadian culture, mainly, is the extension of European civilization. It is characterized by its pluralduality -the dominance of British content, the supplementary role of French culture and its complex constitutive elements from aboriginals and other ethnic groups. Among all of the cultural components, French culture enjoys great autonomy. The establishment of Canadian culture tells the story of both the mergence of world civilizations and the political struggle of Canadian ethnic groups. There are four key problems in Canadian cultural security, (a) Quebec ethnic nationalism (b) aboriginal nationalism (c) identity appeal of "The Third Force" (d) American cultural penetration. The former three exhibit the fragmenting trend of the nation; while the latter manifests the integrating trend of the world in globalization. Quebec ethnic nationalism embodies cultural competition as well as cultural conflict between French Canadians and English Canadians. Aboriginal nationalism reflects dissatisfaction of aboriginals toward political suppression and cultural assimilation of Canadian government. Identity appeal of "The Third Force" suggests cultural discrimination in Canadian society. American cultural penetration exposes the impact of world integrating force and the weaknesses of Canada as a nation-state. In response to its cultural crisis, Canadian government basically adopts two kinds of policies. One is to weaken the national identity, and the other is to strengthen it. In implementing its policies, firstly Canadian government makes compromise with Que...