The author is a historian, sociologist, writer, teacher at the University from Quebec to Chicoutimi in the history, sociology, anthropology, political science and international cooperation programs and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Collective Imaginations.
For a long time, activists have been trying to revive the argument of sovereignty. We will find in What binds us (Écosociété) of the proposals to this effect made by members of Québec solidaire.
There are new and less new, good and very good, as well as less good. We know the main orientations of the party; what is added here are reflections and clarifications on the ways forward. I stop first on the main lines of the book and then comment on them briefly.
The main ideas
The argument is based on the idea of a binational state made up of the “peoples of Quebec”, namely the Aboriginal peoples and the “Quebecers” – this term becoming inappropriate to designate our nation (I will come back to this). The book emphasizes that these partners share a colonized condition, a desire for sovereignty, concern for the climate and biodiversity, and an intense relationship with the territory. We say, “We are […] called to live together and collectively shape this living together” (N. Kanapé Fontaine). The New Quebecers would constitute, it seems, a third partner (Mr. Massé).
Decolonization, sovereignty, climate, territory, these are the components of the project, between which the book shows the interactions. The sovereignist allegiance is clearly affirmed, which will reassure those who might doubt it.
Identity nationalism is rejected: an “accumulation of frustrations”, a “historical regression”, a “stunted nationalism” (G. Nadeau-Dubois). Instead, we propose to rely on our strengths of collective development inspired by social democracy and social justice. We want to get out of a model that favors poverty and inequality, “the exclusion of people on the basis of their differences” (M. Massé). There is also a chapter (R. Ghazal) which offers an enlightened and generous reflection on French.
The authors denounce the concentration of decision-making mechanisms to the detriment of the regions. They want to “bring power closer to the territory”, in the spirit of a participatory democracy (inspired by Aboriginal people). Another objective is to create a great platform from which will be defined the path to sovereignty and the type of society to be built. A “citizen assembly” will draft a Constitution defining the new country.
The book formulates a very pedagogical critique of the federal system: inequality, inequitable distribution of powers, policies harmful to the interests of Quebec, democratic deficit, colonizing structure, neoliberal complicity, tax haven…
Initially the dream
We will agree on the necessity of dreams if we want to rebuild a society. The first thing to do is to ignite the passion, to stimulate the commitment. Then comes the fieldwork where obstacles inevitably arise and resolve is tested. Québec solidaire will need it, given the very elevated and very audacious vision it projects on politics.
So, are we sure that the First Nations will want to enter into this alliance, like one of the peoples of Quebec? If so, how will we bridge the great distance between Quebec culture and Aboriginal culture (we talk about a “common imaginary territory”, a “hand in hand” journey, “a tremendous opportunity for convergence”)? In future negotiations, to what extent will the first want to give way to the second? Will the “Quebecers” be seduced by such a close union with the Aboriginals (“our brothers and sisters”)?
What will happen to the Quebec identity, with its powerful symbolic roots? By becoming one of the “peoples of Quebec”, shouldn’t we logically change our name? Moreover, the colonized condition of the First Nations and that of Quebecers seem to be placed on the same footing (“a common fight”). Isn’t there a significant imbalance here in the degree of harm and injustice suffered?
Thanks to self-determination, “people determine what they want to do”. The greatest hopes are therefore allowed: to eliminate racism, to win the battle for the climate, to put an end to the oppressive power of multinationals and neoliberalism, to free ourselves from social networks, to operate a return to the local (“the most radical” that there is — C. Dorion), effectively combat poverty, inequality, exclusion, put money at the service of the common good, make Quebec “a world leader”, in short: “break the framework”, “redefine… the rules of the game”, “to wipe the slate clean”, “to change the system”. It’s a lot. How will we get there?
As written by M.me Massé, there is still a lot of work to do. We do not doubt it.
That said, the reader will want to stop at V. Marissal’s text, which offers a concrete and precise overview of the courses of action to be taken “to regain the means of our ambitions”.
Conclusion ? Quebec needs a left-wing party that will become sufficiently influential to rebalance the distribution of powers in the National Assembly and to influence decision-making. This is not currently the case. Will Québec solidaire achieve this with this program? I, who have done so little in the political arena, would have bad grace to speculate on the subject. Anyway, this great project deserves attention. It is not often that a party raises reflection to this level.
PS To remember, this statement by G. Nadeau-Dubois on identity: “What binds us is what we…will do together”.