From: clamen+@CS.CMU.EDU (Stewart Clamen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada,can.politics
Subject: GAZETTE: deWilde: WE NEED A POSITIVE, 21st-CENTURY VIEW
Date: 10 Nov 92 06:11:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.BxHL7C.Dzo.1
Reply-To: clamen+@CS.CMU.EDU
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Originator: clamen@BYRON.SP.CS.CMU.EDU


[reprinted with permission]


    We need a positive, 21st-century view of Canadian nationalism

			     Jim de Wilde
			Special to the Gazette
			       Montreal
			    Oct. 27, 1992



For two decades we have had national leaders who failed to promote a
pan-Canadian vision.  Pierre Trudeau used English-Canadian nationalism
to get elected and disparaged Quebec nationalism.  Brian Mulroney has
used Quebec nationalism to get elected and disparaged English-Canadian
nationalism.  The task for a genuine Canadian nationalist heading into
the 21st century is to reconcile both these currents into a positive
national purpose.

	Canada has a unique opportunity to do business with most of
the world, if we learn to pool our resources and build on our
strengths.  Vancouver gives us access to the Pacific Rim; Toronto to
the North American market; Montreal to Europe.  We have the potential
to be genuine global navigators.

	Unfortunately, however, the expression "Canadian nationalism"
has become associated with a parochialism and protectionism that fails
to reflect a positive image of Canada.

	The most visible proponents of this so-called nationalism have
put forward an image based on outdated insecurities instead of a
confident, progressive image of Canada's role in the world.  This robs
Canada of the perspective that is required to link the country with
shared memories and adventures.

	It is unfortunate that we have concluded a North American Free
Trade Agreement before restructuring our economy to achieve global
competitiveness.  It is also unfortunate that a long-overdue end to
the constitutional process has failed to provide for economic union in
stronger terms.

	But it would be tragic if we allowed these missed
opportunities to distract us further from the pursuit of the global
opportunities required to renew Canadian prosperity.  It is essential
that a 21st-century view of Canadian nationalism be defined to achieve
this.

	Let us return to basics.  Canada is more than a great economic
opportunity held back by constitutional paralysis.  It is a set of
unique democratic values which makes it the destination of choice for
newly liberated entrepreneurial immigrants.  Canada is a global
metaphor for unrestricted opportunity.  We have always known that
there are themes, styles and habits of minds which defined us s
Canadians.

	When Canadians went to Sarajevo this summer, we were reminded
that we are the only country in history which has deliberately trained
its military to go thousands of miles from home to try to keep a
peace.  Our habit of celebrating biculturalism and protecting minority
rights have produced a multiculturalism which is unique in the world.
These traditions have created something uniquely Canada.

	The challenge for modern-day nationalists is to redesign our
network of international alliances so that Canadians can have maximum
manoeuvring room in the global economy.  Economic strengths will come
from our ability to manage many global networks, in the way the Swiss
managed European networks in an earlier period of international trade.

	An equally important challenge will be to redesign our
domestic economic structure so that we can produce competitive
products for the next generation of global markets.  This means, for
example, fusing the capacities of British Columbia's advanced
technology base with that of Ontario.

	Governments can help set the state (the Bombardier acquisition
of de Havilland) or the market can innovate on its own (as when links
between Vancouver and Toronto-based aerospace firms were explored this
summer).  However this restructuring takes place, serious Canadian
nationalists will have to quarterback this process so that a strong
Canada can attain sovereignty through competitiveness.

	Already, a new generation of Canadian nationalists is trying
to design win-win deals between the regions.  Now, we need to explore
ways to fuse our capacity in the medical research field into an
export-oriented advanced technology sector; similarly we could create
strategic alliances between provincial hydro utilities in a way that
enhances our competitive advantage.

	A 21st-century view of Canadian nationalism will find other
ways to share our values and expertise with the world --- our video
production technologies, our medical-care systems, our environmental
clean-up capabilities.

	A 21st-century view of Canadian nationalism will see Canada
Inc. as a network of opportunities prepared to enter partnerships with
Mexicans, Russians.  This as the new world economy requires us to
travel further to find ourselves.

	A 21st-century view of Canadian nationalism will use our
justice system to balance rights and responsibilities rather than
falling prey to litigiousness of our neighbor to the south.

	Canadian distinctiveness is real.  We share experiences that
connect us.  But we have lost sight of what nationalism should be in
our quarrels over free trade and our understandable frustration with
the constitution.  This myopia is holding Canada back.  No economic
strategy such as NAFTA is without risk.  But the alternative is to
retreat again into a parochialism which will be self-defeating.

	It would be a tragedy if self-styled Canadian nationalists
spent the year telling Canadians what we cannot do instead of figuring
out what we can do to win on the world stage.  To start designing a
better Canada, we need to a forward looking imagine of Canadian
nationalism --- an image of Canadian nationalism which is meaningful
in all parts of Canada; and one which aims to launch Canada boldly in
the global economy.


Jim de Wilde is director of the Global Competitiveness Project at
McGill University's Faculty of Management.



--
Stewart M. Clamen			Internet:    clamen@cs.cmu.edu
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