The Civil Sphere in Canada

When activists, advocates, victims of injustice, and ordinary citizens seek to advance (or block) social justice and cohesion, they draw on morally charged ideals. But the wellsprings of solidarity in a society as diverse as Canada are complex and mutable.

The Civil Sphere in Canada analyzes the shifting meanings we attach to key social actors, activities, and institutions to reveal the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that animate Canadian society. Applying Jeffrey Alexander's groundbreaking civil sphere theory to Indigenous-settler relations, media scandals, multiculturalism, urban planning, and personal relations, contributors demonstrate that transformations in shared meaning must precede legislative and institutional change. Profoundly harmful behaviours such as cultural appropriation, sexual misconduct, and even genocide may pass as routine for years before the public decides they are unacceptable breaches of civil order.

This superb collection ushers Canadian voices into a burgeoning international debate about the role of the civil sphere in effecting social justice.