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'''Anti-Canadianism''' represents a consistent hostility towards the ], ], or ] of ]. '''Anti-Canadianism''' represents a consistent hostility towards the ], ], or ] of ].


==History== ==History==
One person commonly thought of as an anti-Canadian thinker was ], who is generally ] He was in fact referring to ] as it existed in the eighteenth century. The quote meant that Acadia, which was outside of Canada at that time, was economically worthless and the ] thus did not need to keep it. It is not clear from the full quote whether Voltaire was truly anti-Canadian or not. In fact, many believe Voltaire's statement to be more an indictment of war in general, that no piece of land was worth the trouble. French philosopher ] is generally ] Although he was referring to ], it is not clear from the full quote whether Voltaire was truly anti-Canadian or not.

Historical instances of anti-Canadianism never seem to have lasted long enough to persist in any given society. Even American anti-Canadianism (arguably the strongest example of historical anti-Canadianism) was due chiefly to Canada's willing participation in the ], and not necessarily to any attribute of Canada proper. American anti-Canadianism was most prominent surrounding the failure of attempted American invasions during the ] and the ].


==Modern perceptions== ==Modern perceptions==
{{see also|Foreign relations of Canada}} {{see also|Foreign relations of Canada}}
Generally speaking, where people have formed opinions of Canada they tend to be quite positive. Dislike for Canada may rise for two reasons: a general dislike for "the West", in which Canada is included, or a specific objection to policies and attitudes of Canada and Canadians. The latter type is generally limited to the few countries who have a history of important disputes with Canada. Generally speaking, where people have formed opinions of Canada they tend to be quite positive. Dislike for Canada may rise due to a specific objection to policies and attitudes of Canada and Canadians.


===United States=== ===United States===
] ]
{{seealso|Canada-United States relations}} {{seealso|Canada-United States relations}}


In the ], Canada is often a target of ] and ] commentators who hold the northern nation up as an example of what a government and society that are too liberal would look like. In the ], Canada is often a target of ] and ] commentators who hold the northern nation up as an example of what a government and society that are too liberal would look like.


"Soviet Canuckistan" is one unflattering ] for Canada, used by ] on ], ], on his ] show on ] in which he denounced Canadians as ] and the country as a haven for ]. He was reacting to a warning that had been issued by the Canadian ] that Canadians born in ], ], ], ], and ] should be cautious travelling to the ]. "Soviet Canuckistan" is one unflattering ] for Canada, used by ] on ], ], on his ] show on ] in which he denounced Canadians as ] and the country as a haven for ]. Moreover, in ], Buchanan said that if Canada were to break apart due to the failure of the ], "America would pick up the pieces." He said two years after that "for most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don't think about it, unless it acts up."

Buchanan has a history of unflattering references to Canada, having said in ] that if Canada were to break apart due to the failure of the ], "America would pick up the pieces." He said two years after that "for most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don't think about it, unless it acts up."


In the wake of Canada's refusal to participate in the ], as well as its turning down of the ], ] has recently become another prominent anti-Canadian American. She has often proposed (semi-humourous) extreme solutions to "Canadian dissent", such as a military invasion of Canada. In the wake of Canada's refusal to participate in the ], as well as its turning down of the ], ] has recently become another prominent anti-Canadian American. She has often proposed (semi-humourous) extreme solutions to "Canadian dissent", such as a military invasion of Canada.


In 2006, right-wing American strategist ] said Canadians are "so liberal and hedonistic" that they have a philosophy of "cultural Marxism". In 2006, right-wing American strategist ] said Canadians are "so liberal and hedonistic" that they have a philosophy of "cultural Marxism". {{fact}}


===Brazil=== ===Brazil===
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===From the right=== ===From the right===
During the 1990s, there was a controversial ] of well-educated Canadians to the US. Many prominent Canadian conservatives have expressed dismay at recent liberal trends in society and point to places like the United States and Britain as far superior to Canada. Many, like ] or ] have chosen to leave the country feeling that Canada is unsalvageable. Even among those who have stayed there is often more admiration for US conservative policies, personalities and history, than for the Canadian equivalents. Even current Prime Minister ] at one point denounced Canada to an audience of American conservatives saying: During the 1990s, there was a controversial ] of well-educated Canadians to the US and Britain. Even current Prime Minister ] at a few points in his career denounced Canada. [http://www.canadiandemocraticmovement.ca/displayarticle378.html
:''First, facts about Canada. Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it. Canadians make no connection between the fact that they are a Northern European welfare state and the fact that we have very low economic growth, a standard of living substantially lower than yours, a massive brain drain of young professionals to your country, and double the unemployment rate of the United States.''{{ref|speech}}
The ] tried unsuccessfully to use this quote against Harper to stop him from being elected in the 2006 election.


===From the left=== ===From the left===
In ], some people within the ] harbour feelings of deep-seated mistrust towards ]. Former Quebec Premier ] famously said that “Canada is not a real country”, and author Norman Lester published a ''Black Book of English Canada'' detailing events of ] he saw as being crimes perpetrated by the majority on the minority. As well similarly loud and forceful denunciations of Canadian government and businesses have traditionally come from the far-left of the Canadian political spectrum, for example the ]. Often the criticism is that Canada too closely follows the United States lead and is acting like a ]. Forceful statements against Canada have come from the far-left of the Canadian political spectrum, for example the ]. Often the criticism is that Canada too closely follows the United States lead and is acting like a ].


==Anti-Canadianism and humour== ==Anti-Canadianism and humour==
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==References==
# {{note|speech}} , CTV.ca, 14 December 2005; Susan Riley, "Harper's suspect evolution", 16 December 2005, A18.


] ]

Revision as of 14:29, 24 May 2006

Anti-Canadianism represents a consistent hostility towards the government, culture, or people of Canada.

History

French philosopher Voltaire is generally misquoted as saying Canada is "a few acres of snow." Although he was referring to Acadia, it is not clear from the full quote whether Voltaire was truly anti-Canadian or not.

Modern perceptions

See also: Foreign relations of Canada

Generally speaking, where people have formed opinions of Canada they tend to be quite positive. Dislike for Canada may rise due to a specific objection to policies and attitudes of Canada and Canadians.

United States

File:Buchanan Pat.jpg
Pat Buchanan
See also: Canada-United States relations

In the United States, Canada is often a target of conservative and right-wing commentators who hold the northern nation up as an example of what a government and society that are too liberal would look like.

"Soviet Canuckistan" is one unflattering epithet for Canada, used by Pat Buchanan on October 31, 2002, on his television show on MSNBC in which he denounced Canadians as anti-American and the country as a haven for terrorists. Moreover, in 1990, Buchanan said that if Canada were to break apart due to the failure of the Meech Lake Accord, "America would pick up the pieces." He said two years after that "for most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don't think about it, unless it acts up."

In the wake of Canada's refusal to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as well as its turning down of the Missile Defense Plan, Ann Coulter has recently become another prominent anti-Canadian American. She has often proposed (semi-humourous) extreme solutions to "Canadian dissent", such as a military invasion of Canada.

In 2006, right-wing American strategist Paul Weyrich said Canadians are "so liberal and hedonistic" that they have a philosophy of "cultural Marxism".

Brazil

One place where anti-Canadian sentiment has been observed is Brazil where people boycotted Canadian goods and burned them in the streets to protest a Canadian ban of Brazilian beef imports, reportedly because of fears of mad-cow disease, but which many Brazilians believed were motivated by an unrelated trade dispute between the two nations. Canada's subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Bombardier have been a source of much tension with Brazil because they are said to interfere with the business of Bombardier's Brazillian rival Embraer.

Anti-Canadian Canadians

From the right

During the 1990s, there was a controversial brain drain of well-educated Canadians to the US and Britain. Even current Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a few points in his career denounced Canada. [http://www.canadiandemocraticmovement.ca/displayarticle378.html

From the left

Forceful statements against Canada have come from the far-left of the Canadian political spectrum, for example the Communist Party of Canada. Often the criticism is that Canada too closely follows the United States lead and is acting like a 51st State.

Anti-Canadianism and humour

Humourous anti-Canadianism often focuses on broadly-known attributes of Canada and Canadians (such as cold weather or public health care), as the finer details of Canadian culture and politics are generally not well known outside Canada. Consequently, such humour is often made at the expense of accuracy outside Canada. However, these broad targets are more accurately caricatured within Canada itself. Such self-deprecating humour is nearly universal among Canadian humourists. In keeping with this attitude, some genuinely critical anti-Canadianisms (such as "Soviet Canuckistan") are embraced by Canadians as humourous, in defiance of the original intent.

In popular culture

  • In 1995, American director Michael Moore parodied anti-Canadianism in his film Canadian Bacon, in which the United States stages a cold war with its northern neighbour, inadvertently inspiring border raids.
  • The television sitcom The Simpsons regularly parodies Canada and Canadians.

External links

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