Nationalism and Language Conflict in Quebec

Abstract

<p>The thesis, in opposition to dominant approaches in the literature, attempts to delineate a new theory on nationalism which is grounded in ongoing ideological and socio-economic changes in Quebec society. Language conflict is treated as a particularly relevant and approachable variable in the components which fuse to create, the ideology nationalism. The discussion centres on class as a source of ideological elements in nationalism, and suggests ways in which nationalist ideology and nationalist proponents interact both within Quebec and in the larger system of modern monopoly capitalism. The conclusion drawn is that nationalism reflects not only national consciousness, but class consciousness too. Hence, those characteristics of class conflict which typify relations between classes can also be seen in the relations between class nationalists and among the state, the dominant class and class nationalists.</p>