The Search for a New National Identity - The Rise of Multiculturalism in Canada and Australia, 1890s-1970s

This book explores the profound social, cultural, and political changes that affected the way in which Canadians and Australians defined themselves as a «people» from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s. Taking as its central theme the way each country responded to the introduction of new migrants, the book asks a key historical question: why and how did multiculturalism replace Britishness as the defining idea of community for English-speaking Canada and Australia, and what does this say about their respective experiences of nationalism in the twentieth century? The book begins from a simple premise - namely, that the path towards the adoption of multiculturalism as the orthodox way of defining national community in English-speaking Canada and Australia in the latter half of the twentieth century was both uncertain and unsteady. It followed a period in which both nations had looked first and foremost to Britain to define their national self-image. In both nations, however, following the breakdown of their more formal and institutional ties to the 'mother-country' in the post-war period there was a crisis of national meaning, and policy makers and politicians moved quickly to fill the void with a new idea of the nation, one that was the very antithesis to the White, monolithic idea of Britishness. This book will be useful for both history and politics courses in Australia and Canada, as well as internationally.
'A well-researched and important comparative study of the decline of Britishness and the rise of multiculturalism in both Canada and Australia from the 1890s to the present. It is a must-read book for historians of both countries, especially those interested in the creation of national identities.'-Phil Buckner, UCL/University of New Brunswick
'An original approach to an important subject, this book argues that it is no coincidence that Australia and Canada were at the forefront of the official adoption of multiculturalism as a unifying ideal. Mann's study insists on the historical contingency of the rise of multicultural discourse, locating it securely within the wider history of global decolonization.'-Stuart Ward, University of Copenhagen
'A comparative book-length study of Australian and Canadian multiculturalism policy is long overdue. Unlike many scholars, he does not conflate modern understandings of multiculturalism with its historical antecedents. Instead, he seeks to historicize multiculturalism policy - something that has been sorely lacking in both geographical contexts.' -Lee Blanding, Langara College
'Mann challenges the preconception that multiculturalism was a "natural" and "inevitable" development of the history of Canada and Australia. Since he focuses on an historical and political perspective, his work is a good companion to other works that focus on a cultural or economic approach to nationalism and national identities.'-Elisa Sance, University of Maine
'The originality of Mann's approach lies in its close reading of texts: speeches, correspondence and other private papers. Mann's book is significant for the comparative perspectives that it brings to the study of the rise of multiculturalism in Canada and Australia.'-Andrew Markus, Monash University
'This is an ambitious work, covering a span of almost a century and maintaining its focus on the two strands of national identity and immigration policy. Mann's delivery matches the ambition of the project, and this is an important work for anyone wishing to understand the growth of post-British national identities in Canada and Australia.'-Iain Johnston-White, Aberystwyth University
'Timely and relevant, Mann's book will provide a reliable source for higher education coursework on postcolonial identity politics. It is indispensable for course development on comparative postcolonial politics, and will support studies of contemporary cultural phenomena too, by providing a parallel historical survey.

List of contents

Contents: Assimilation Policy in Canada, 1890s-1953 - Integration Policy in Canada, 1953-1963 - The Introduction of a Multicultural Policy in Canada, 1963-1971 - Assimilation Policy in Australia, 1890s-1962 - Integration Policy in Australia, 1962-1972 - The Introduction of a Multicultural Policy in Australia, 1972-1978 - «Anglo-conformity and Incorporation into the Anglo-Celtic Culture»: A Comparison of Assimilation Policies in Canada and Australia, 1890s-1960s - «Retaining Migrant Cultures» and «Leavening British Traditions»: A Comparison of Integration Policies in Canada and Australia, 1950s-1970s - «Multiculturalism within a Bilingual Framework» and «A Cohesive, United, Multicultural Nation»: A Comparison of the Introduction of Multicultural Policies in Canada and Australia, 1960s-1970s.

About the author

Jatinder Mann is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta. He has published numerous articles in front-ranking, interdisciplinary journals and is co-editor of Documents on Australian Foreign Policy on War and Peace, 1914¿1919, which will be published in 2017. Mann was awarded his doctorate in history at the University of Sydney. He was also a recipient of the prestigious Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship by the Australian Government and an International Postgraduate Award by the University of Sydney for his doctoral research.

Summary

This book explores the profound social, cultural, and political changes that affected the way in which Canadians and Australians defined themselves as a "people" from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s.

Report

«This is a timely and useful book that will be of use to scholars of ethnicity, immigration, and multiculturalism.»
(Lee Blanding, The Canadian Historical Review, Volume 98, Number 2, 2017)
Full review

«[...] this is an important work for anyone wishing to understand the growth of post-British national identities in Canada and Australia.»
(Iain Johnston-White, British Journal of Canadian Studies Volume 30, Issue 2, 2017)

«Mann's book is significant for the comparative perspectives that it brings to the study of the rise of multiculturalism in Canada and Australia.»
(Andrew Markus, History Australia Sep. 2017)

«Students and scholars interested in issues of nationalism, race, multiculturalism, and immigration will find this book of great interest.»
(Elisa Sance, American Review of Canadian Studies Jul. 2017)

«Timely and relevant, Mann's book will provide a reliable source for higher education coursework on postcolonial identity politics. It targets researchers-including students-rather than the casual reader, although the latter may also benefit from its perspicuity regarding the phenomenon of national identity. It is indispensable for course development on comparative postcolonial politics, and will support studies of contemporary cultural phenomena too, by providing a parallel historical survey.»
(Gabriella T. Espák, Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies 24.2/2018)

Product details

• Authors: Jatinder Mann
• Assisted by: Irene Maria F. Blayer (Editor), Irene Maria F Blayer (Editor), Maria Scott (Editor), Dulce Maria Scott (Editor)
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2016
• EAN: 9781433133695
• ISBN: 978-1-4331-3369-5
• No. of pages: 340
• Dimensions: 173 mm x 24 mm x 230 mm
• Weight: 600 g
• Series: Interdisciplinary Studies in Diasporas; Interdisciplinary Studies in Diasporas
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas