Politique canadienne

A19(b) - National Identity and Multiculturalism

Date: Jun 5 | Heure: 01:45pm to 03:15pm | Salle:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Arjun Tremblay (University of Regina)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Arjun Tremblay (University of Regina)

Sentiment Analysis of Political Critiques on Multiculturalism in Canada: The Politics of Belonging: Mahdi Baratalipour (University of Toronto)
Abstract: This study examines the emotional and rhetorical strategies used by various political and social movements in their critiques of multiculturalism in Canada, focusing on how sentiments shape political discourse. Groups such as the Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois, People’s Party of Canada, Indigenous leaders, and far-right movements express diverse concerns related to national identity, cultural integration, and security. The study innovates by applying sentiment analysis through NLP tools like VADER to measure the tone (positive, negative, or neutral) and emotional intensity of these critiques, offering a novel approach to understanding political rhetoric in a multicultural context. By analyzing political speeches, manifestos, and policy documents, the research identifies the emotional underpinnings of opposition to multiculturalism, comparing how different groups frame their critiques. Beyond simply categorizing sentiments, the study explores the intensity of emotional appeals and identifies the specific rhetorical techniques used to engage with public sentiment on multiculturalism. The findings contribute to broader discussions about identity, citizenship, and national unity in Canada, revealing how emotionally charged critiques of multiculturalism reflect deeper ideological divides. This research not only advances the use of NLP in political analysis but also provides valuable insights into how emotion-driven rhetoric influences public policy and national debates on multiculturalism, with potential applications in other multicultural societies. Keywords: Sentiment Analysis, Multiculturalism, Canada, Political Critiques, National Identity, Cultural Integration, NLP, VADER, Rhetorical Strategies, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois, People’s Party of Canada, Indigenous Leaders, Far-Right Movements.

Imagining Futures Beyond Crisis: Expanding Political Imagination in Canada through Speculative Fiction: Stephen Gnanasihamany (Concordia University), Daniel Salée (Concordia University)
Abstract: Facing compounding sociopolitical crises, Canada is experiencing a widespread sense of despair, political fatalism, and fear of the future. Such affects encourage denial, doubt, and a sense of futility in the face of crisis, making it difficult to imagine political futures where we collectively and successfully overcome such challenges. This research explores this failure of political imagination, locating its structural roots within neoliberalism and settler nationalism, and argues that engagement with speculative fiction texts that depict collective action and resistance amidst adverse conditions leading to successful social change can stimulate political imagination and encourage action. In this paper, I pursue a critical textual analysis of three such texts: Butler’s Parable of the Sower (1993), where characters respond to social breakdown in early 2020s California; Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves (2017), portraying resistance to colonial violence in an apocalyptic Canada; and Vowel’s Buffalo is the New Buffalo (2022), featuring speculative short stories grounded in Indigenous futurisms. Featuring authors writing from both the United States and Canada allows us to connect the crisis of political imagination in Canada to broader contexts while also exploring the particularities of expanding political imagination within Canada. By synthesizing threads of theoretical, empirical, and textual analysis through an interdisciplinary lens, I aim to clearly define Canada’s contemporary crisis of political imagination, understand its structural roots, and explore speculative fiction as a pathway towards envisioning and enacting more hopeful, justice-oriented, and pro-social collective futures.

Tracing Shifts in Multicultural Consensus Through Semantic Analysis of Political Narratives: Mahdi Baratalipour (University of Toronto Scarborough), Danielle Bohonos (University of Toronto Scarborough), Christopher Cochrane (University of Toronto Scarborough), Md Mujahedul Islam (University of Toronto Scarborough)
Abstract: We examine the evolution of multicultural consensus in Canada. Building on literature in political communication and multiculturalism, we leverage tools from natural language processing to analyze how concepts central to multiculturalism—such as diversity, inclusion, and integration—have transformed in Canadian political narratives. We are particularly interested in diachronic analyses of embeddings spaces, and we experiment with Procrustes analysis, optimization, and other approaches to map temporal changes in the meaning of concepts. We contribute to understanding temporal shifts in public sentiment by further demonstrating the utility of embeddings models for studying complex social phenomena. If accepted for presentation, please include the full list of authors' names: Mahdi Baratalipour, Danielle Bohonos, Christopher Cochrane, Md Mujahedul Islam, Ken Kato, and Meghan Snider. The website allowed us to add only four authors' names.

Reframing Canadian Identity: The NFBC’s Role in Public Discourse and Democratic Engagement: John Bessai (University College of the North)
Abstract: How does the National Film Board of Canada (NFBC) contribute to democratic engagement and the shaping of Canadian identity through its storytelling initiatives? This paper investigates the NFBC’s role in navigating the Canadian aporetic condition—the tensions inherent in Canadian democracy, such as colonial legacies, multiculturalism, and environmental challenges—through storytelling that emphasizes coexistence and shared responsibility. Focusing on Circa 1948 and Biidaaban: First Light, this study examines how these projects reframe public discourse on identity and democracy. Circa 1948 employs augmented reality to reconstruct post-war Vancouver, exposing urban displacement and inequality themes. Meanwhile, Biidaaban integrates Indigenous knowledge and speculative futures to challenge dominant cultural narratives and prompt reflection on sustainable coexistence with the environment. Using interdisciplinary methodologies from political science and visual culture studies, this research explores how national institutions like the NFBC engage with diverse perspectives to promote dialogue on Canadian identity. It demonstrates how storytelling can reshape public discourse to address democratic resilience, bridging communities and reframing what it means to live together in a pluralistic society.