Preface - Culture And Politics In Canada:
Towards A Culture For All Canadians

This is a monograph about culture and politics in Canada. As such, it is concerned with one of the most complex and difficult issues in Canadian development of all.

This is a propitious moment to be delving into this issue. Not only is the country going through a period of profound political and cultural transformation, due largely to globalization, the rapidly-changing nature of the Canadian population, the Quebec situation, technological change, and the redistribution of federal, provincial and municipal powers, but also politics and culture hold the key to the country's future development. If the complex connection between culture and politics can be dealt with effectively in the future, it is likely that the country will remain intact and Canadians will experience harmony in their lives together. However, if it cannot be dealt with effectively, it is likely the country will split apart and Canadians will be forced to confront one of the most divisive and disruptive periods in their history.

A great deal more will have to be known about Canadian culture if the complex connection between culture and politics is to be dealt with effectively. In the past, Canadian culture has been viewed and defined in specialized and often elite terms. This has made it a marginal rather than mainstream activity. For the future, it may be more appropriate to view the country's culture in holistic terms. This would be consistent not only with the comprehensive meaning culture is acquiring in the modern world, but also with the need to bring all provinces, regions, groups and cultures in the country together.

When Canadian culture is viewed in holistic terms, it is a culture of inclusion rather than exclusion. Not only does every Canadian have a fundamental contribution to make to it, but also every Canadian has a fundamental stake in it. This makes it a culture of central importance to all Canadians. It also is makes it a culture of vital importance to governments and political parties in all parts of the country.

Like other monographs in the World Culture Project series, the present monograph is intended to be illustrative and exploratory rather than authoritative or definitive in nature. Its purpose is to show how the complex connection between culture and politics has evolved in Canada in the past, is dealt with at present, and might be dealt with in the future. It is hoped that this approach will prove helpful in guiding public and private policy and decision-making in the years and decades ahead.

I would like to express my gratitude to Jill Humphries and the advisors to the Canadian Component of the World Culture Project (see appendix) for their valuable contributions to this monograph. While recognizing these contributions, I nevertheless assume responsibility for everything contained in the text.