soci ch11 Ethnicity and Race Relations in Canada

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and terms related to ethnicity, race relations, and multiculturalism in Canada as discussed in the lecture.

Charter groups

The British and the French, the founding members of the Canadian Confederation formed in 1867.

Critical race theory

A theoretical approach used to deconstruct racial ideologies and analyze the politics of 'race' and its links to nationalism.

Ethnic group

People sharing a common ethnic identity who can organize and act on their ethnic interests.

Ethnicity

Sets of social distinctions by which groups differentiate themselves based on presumed biological ties.

Melting-pot policies

Policies that fail to recognize differences among communities, encouraging immigrants to discard their traditions.

Multiculturalism

A government policy in Canada promoting tolerance among cultural groups and assisting ethnic groups in preserving their values.

Orientalism

A discourse that misrepresents Arab cultures while exalting Western superiority, characterizing Arabs as uniform and exotic.

Post-colonialism

Studies focusing on the cultural production of colonized people and the lasting effects of colonial status.

Racialization

Processes where social relations among people are structured by visible physical differences, to the advantage of the majority.

Systemic discrimination

Discrimination embedded in the fabric of society, exemplified through institutional self-segregation.

W.E.B. Du Bois

An African American historian and civil rights activist who influenced critical race theory and studied racial identity and public policy.

Race

A group that is defined on the basis of perceived physical differences such as skin colour.

monopolistic closure

a group restricting access to resources, opportunities, and rewards to maintain their privileged position.

hard primordialism

a theory that emphasizes the deeply ingrained, natural, and immutable nature of ethnic and national identities. It suggests that these identities are rooted in biological, cultural, or historical ties that are essentially pre-existing and not subject to change or construction. 

soft primordialism

suggests that attachments like ethnic or racial identity are subjective, learned, and influenced by social and political contexts. It emphasizes that these identities are not fixed or innate, but rather evolve and are shaped by interactions within societies.

behavioural

_______ assimilation refers to “acquiring” the values of dominant groups.

assimilation

the process through which individuals and groups of differing heritages acquire the basic habits, attitudes, and mode of life of an embracing culture