Malcolm Gladwell - 'Canada: Nation or Notion?'

In this exclusive behind the scenes segment, Malcolm Gladwell presents his argument before the 'Canada: Nation or Notion?' debate presented by Maclean's.

On March 30th, two great journalists—with deep Canadian connections—debated the importance and relevance of a Canadian identity in North America and the world. This latest installment of the Maclean's Magazine 'In Coversation' series brought together Adam Gopnik and Malcolm Gladwell, two New Yorker writers, with a history of lively debate.

Malcolm Gladwell - The Guru
Malcolm Gladwell rose to international prominence with his 2000 book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, which investigated why "social epidemics"—quick and unexpected changes like the dramatic drop in crime in 1990s New York City, or the sudden elevation to bestseller status of an unknown book by an unknown author—happen the way they do.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Macleans.ca
• Maclean's
• Canada
• Debate
• Adam
• Gopnik
• Malcolm
• Gladwell
• Tipping
• Point
• Paris
• Moon

[TheTTBT]

@zschlappi YES! The threatened institution of Hockey Night in Canada should unite with the nations biggest meta-critics of hockey in order to create The HNICPM (Hockey Night in Canada People's Movement) as the one place where Canadians can exercise the idea of Canadian nationhood (even though nationhood was obsolesced by the internet). We could have competative ammature commentary with colour commentary, poop on Stephen Harper nights, live music scoring of games, Bob Probert night

[zschlappi]

@TheTTBT Maybe thinking Hockey as your national identity is the only sane thing left after having a Conservative Majority in Ottawa for the first time in history? :-(

[TheTTBT]

@zschlappi I agree with you that a struggle for language or culture can produce identity (or Hugh Maclennan's "solitudes"), but I don't think any of those represent a specifically "Canadian" identity as opposed to a Quebecois identity or an Anglo Identity. Any number identities can flourish in Canada, just not a Canadian one because we don't have a state identity. Do you think hockey is our national identity? I'm sort of thinking that these days. Just look at the press reaction to Sid.

[zschlappi]

@TheTTBT

Living in Montreal for three years taught me there is a massive war of identities: most prominent being the struggle of language, culture and identity between the Quebecois and the Anglos.

[TheTTBT]

McLuhan said that Canada is the only nation in the world that knows how to survive without an identity. He based this on the fact that we "never had the bloodbath". As individual or corporate identity is achieved through some type of violence or force, we never got around to overthrowing the English. We are all losers - the colonists and the natives alike. It's a beauty way to go, eh?

[Seaworldexists]

Think it is more our lack of homogenony than size that concerns most Canadians and make them feel more like a confederation of ethnic groups rather than a nation.

[tnj2323]

Well, I love the nation or notion of Canada and Canadians, and I am a United States citizen...

I have never quite understood WHY Canada gets such a bad rep, or not much respect (from ignorant US Americans). I have been to several cities in different Provinces, and I have fallen in love with them all.

I agree with Malcom about Canada's seeming insignificance. Whenever I would tell a Canadian how much I loved their country, they were always surprised and apologetic...go figure.

[Mystep]

It depends on how you see yourself.For example in comparision to the U.S. or Japan yes we're "small" but if you consider Canada as being the world's 9th economic power amoung over 200 nations(not bad for a country of only 33 million people) then our perception changes.

[OMFGmattyFatty]

Northern Canada is cold, and the people would rather be where the temperature is tolerable.

It is the 2nd biggest country in the world, but the majority of that land cannot be used.

[Crazyman1212]

good more room for us canadians