SOCIOLOGY 1

Assignment 2

SOCI 3991

Name of Student

T00606083

Dec 15, 2017

SOCIOLOGY 2

1. According to the reading you completed, this unit by Zygmunt Bauman states that

identity is something that needs to be invented rather than discovered. How does this

concept relate to his discussion of the idea of “nation”? Why did nation-states invest such

efforts to build a national identity in their citizens?

Bauman’s statement on identity beingsomething to be invented rather than discovered

points toidentity as an objective. Bauman concurs that status should not be imposed on an

individual, but rather one should be allowed to build it from scratch to suit one's perception. In

the invention process, one struggles to accept ideologies that represent them and the truth in

which they believe. In essence, national? identity is a factor that stabilizes the people, and it

transitions them towards creating a social order. The idea of identity has gained momentum in

the modern day. In expressing one's identity, two dimensions are adopted, the influence of where

one lives and the influence of similar ideas. Bauman's ideology of explaining identity from the

nation's perspective reflects the concept of people living in a shared space, sharing same systems

of governance (Bauman, 2004).

The idea of a nation's identity began after interaction of people from different societies to

account for people without "masters" or societiesbecame challenging. It created an "identity

problem" that needed fixing to lead to the creation of order monitoring entitiessuch as the nation

state?. This form of identity has been passed over to individuals at birth influencing how one acts

in a bid to fit the status attached to them. In doing so, individuals lack the ownership of identity

or the sense of belonging. Therefore, the idea of a nation's identity is met with an essential need

or duty associated with one's territorial confinement during birth. The nation's nation-

creatingapproach was necessary to guarantee the order in a state and loyalty from the citizens.
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The term national identity confined one’s identity to the jurisdiction of the state and was

evidenced by the presence of an identity card or a passport.

The naturalness of one’s identity by birth does not guarantee exclusivity and lack of

competition. A state, therefore, needs to create an environment that would draw one to the idea

of belonging to the state. Bauman refutes the idea that national identity is inborn and it is true.

The state has to be actively involved in constructing the identity socially (Bauman, 2004). The

country achieves this by using elements that create the commonness among the citizens such as

national symbols like the flag, national anthem, national language, culture, cuisine, games,

history, and color among others. The elements create commonality among the citizens drawing

them to the same ideology and beliefs that eventually unites them, complemented further by a

common territory. The influence of social systems integrates to personal identity influencing

how an individual views the nation and their identity. Citizens who embrace the national identity

into their personal lives are loyal citizens, they abide by the law, and they practice the values and

beliefs of the nations in their everyday activities.

The theory of social identity confirms that a national identity creates a sense of positive

emotions towards one’s nation such as love and pride. The positivity towards one's nation makes

one a law-abiding citizen, and it promotes cohesion among individuals of varying mixed

ethnicity. National identity also promotes an exceptionalism ionalistidea of one's country, and

this ultimately reduces the cases of conflict with the law and with other citizens. The concept of

belonging to one's nation brings out patriotism. Patriotism makes it easier for a country to push

forth its agendas as the citizens have a common intention for the nation. Every country should

seek to unite its citizens rather than divide, and in pursuance of national identity, the state can

reduce conflict and promote unity among the member states. A national identity also enhances
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salience among the citizens. In the phase case?of a threat, both internally and externally, citizens

can come together. The cohesiveness of the citizens is based on their loyalty to the nation and the

impact an attack on the country has on them as individuals.

The benefits associated with having a national identity should prompt the nations to

promote the idea. Notably, citizens can uphold law and order with minimum policing and they

can unite when faced by a common threat.,Such citizens seek good for the country, are loyal and

patriotic, and they can blend into society despite their varying backgrounds and ethnicity, based

on a common agenda. Such benefits keep a nation peaceful and progressive in its endeavors.

Thus, countries need to promote a national identity among its citizens. The national identity is

shaped by several elements of nationalism such as the national anthem, common language, color,

or culture among others. The elements assist a nation in developing one's identity socially.

2. How is Quebec’s national identity related to its aspirations for political independence

from Canada? How has the national identity of Quebec been transformed through its

history? Why has language been such an important aspect of the national identity of

Quebec?

The establishment of Quebec’s national identity occurred through a cycle of events. The

state has its identity incorporated in the Canadian national identity, a unique case. The Quebec

situation arose as a conflict of lingual and ethnicity ethnicvariation. The Canadian? Quebec?

state sought to have its inclusivity and exclusivity simultaneously. Bauman refers to it as a state

of separation yet joined (Bauman, 2004). Quebec, a state on the map of Canada cannot be

excluded from the Canadian national identity, however, as a state, Quebec has its own identity as

a French-speaking state. The journey to Quebec’s independence began with the desire for

inclusion in…?by the French-speaking Canadians. According to the ethnic group, the French
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accounted for about 2% of the population of Northern America (Oakes & Warren, 2007).

However, despite having interacted with the English, the French felt sidelined and being

considered a minority was denying them exclusive rights to their identity. The creation of a

Quebec identity was in a bid to accommodate the French-speaking Canadians.

Canada was a state government by different colonies in Europe (Oakes & Warren, 2007).

The southern upper?part was loyal to the British Colony while the upper lower?partwas

dominated by the French and the Polish. The cultural diversity led to the desire to create a

collective nation that promotes similar ideologies that would draw people together. The British

were opposed to the idea, and it did not take place for a long time. In the 1950's the French in

Quebec began a revolution that gave them an identity that was unique to their ethnic language.

The approach was pegged on the social identity theory that positive association within a nation

can create a derogation of other countries. In this case, the French wanted to be treated as an

independent state rather than be considered a minority under the Canadian identity. In 1978, the

government allowed Quebec to incorporate all French-speaking nationals into its culture.

The policy led to the creation of the ministry of immigration, which later became inter-

culturalism, which looked into the issues of minorities and immigrants into Canada. The policy

still secluded the French from other ethnic groups until a revision of the policy occurred in 1991.

The new policy aimed at building Quebec together. Quebec was treated as a state that made

French the common language; it became a democratic state where all the people living in Quebec

were allowed to vote and participate in the development of the state. The society also welcomed

people from other cultures making it a pluralist society open to the influence of the other cultural

groups.
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The identification of the French language as the official language in Quebec gave it a

unique identity from the rest of Canadian states that speak English. The policy also ensured that

non-French communities would have to learn French to experience effective social interaction

and better services from the state. The standby Quebec lawsdiffer fromCanadians laws that

accept both French and English as national languages in the nation. While some consider the act

by Quebec as an act of ethnic cleansing, others see it as a liberal stand to getting a nation’s

identity. The French felt marginalized, and with such a perception, it would be hard to integrate

them into the national identity. The adoption of Quebec as an independent state promotes

cohesion among the various ethnic groupings in the country, which eventually complements the

national identity in Canada (Oakes & Warren, 2007). Quebec recognizes its citizens ina bid to

promote goodwill among the citizens. Using this approach, the citizens feel a sense of inclusivity

as key members of the state. The ideology, however, does not resonate well with other people

who feel the sense of citizenship should be exclusive to a nation but not a state. Such conflicting

ideas cause political divisions in the country especially on issues of governance and policy

formulations. Ideally, in Quebec, citizenship is exclusive of nationality; however, the citizen is

still included as a nationalofCanada.

The situation in Quebec is different compared to many parts of the world. A national

identity is inclusive and exclusive of citizenship simultaneously. Quebec is a state whose

citizens’ identity varies from the national identity. The uniqueness of Quebec is pegged on the

acceptance of French as the state’s province’s official language, unlike other states provinces?

that accept both French and English. The process of establishing its identity has not been easy,

but Quebec identified a common issue and forged forth with its agenda. First, the French-

speaking people’sdesire for inclusion with the other cultural groups within the area led to the
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birth of Quebec’s distinct identity. In a bid to foster cohesion in the country, the national

government allowed Quebec to get its distinct identity. Language became the key identifier of

the people of Quebec, as they constitute mainly French-speaking people. New immigrants into

the state are expected to learn French to survive easily in the state. The scenario causes conflict

among English speaking states and political leadership, and the two will be able to resolve the

conflict to maintain a national identity.

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Reference

Bauman, Z. (2004). Identity. Identity; conversations with Benedetto Vecchi (pp. 9-23).

Identity in Quebec (pp. 25-43). Houndmills, Basingstoke Hampshire: Palgrave

Macmillan.

Oakes, L., & Warren, J. (2007). From French Canadian to Quebecer. Language, citizenship and

Oxford: Polity Press.