Generations and Nationalism

Alain-G Gagnon is Professor of Political Science and the Canada Research Chair of Quebec and Canadian Studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada.Luc Turgeon is Professor of Political Science at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

"This unique volume brings together leading scholars to tackle the underexamined question of generational change and nationalism, with a focus on the 'small nations' of Catalonia, Scotland and Quebec that are internal to states. What emerges is a gripping comparative account of how, as a result of generations, nationalist movements may shift in orientation, and support for nationalist projects like independence may ebb and flow. In providing new pathways and theoretical anchors for explaining continuity and change, this collection is essential reading for understanding nationalism as a force shaping the 21st century.”Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Professor of Political Science and Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Citizenship and Human Rights, The University of Alberta“Studies of nationalism frequently refer to differences amongst generations but this is the first truly comparative, conceptually sophisticated and thoroughly researched study of the phenomenon. It will be essential reading for those interested in Quebec, Catalonia and Scotland, and for students of nationalism in general.”Michael Keating, Emeritus Professor of politics, Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh“This collective work focuses on an interesting and renewed analytical subject: the role played by different generations or citizens’ cohorts in nationalist and secessionist movements in current liberal democracies. The approach includes cohort, life-cycle and period effects through a critical conceptual framework and a comparative analysis between three empirical cases: Quebec, Scotland and Catalonia. In continuity with the Mannheim classical seminal work on 'The Problem of Generations' and the post-war scholarly literature on recognition and political accommodation of minority nations in plurinational states, this book accurately highlights how generational changes influence national and secessionist movements. This work may acquire a special relevance for other minority nations that share with the analysed cases the support of liberal democratic values, the rejection of violence, inclusive conceptions of national membership, as well as specific failures in their respective constitutional states at the moment of achieving political recognition and a just and workable constitutional accommodation.”Ferran Requejo, Professor of Political Science, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)

• Introduction 1. Introduction: Understanding Nationalism Through a Generational Lens Section 1: Theoretical Perspectives 2. The Nation as Intergenerational Artifact 3. Grievances and Nationalism 4. Nationalism, Diversity, and Generations Section 2: Nationalist Movements and Generational Change5. The (Re)emergence of Catalan Secessionism through a Generational Lens 6. Generational Tensions, Social Conflicts, and the National Question in Quebec 7. From “Macaroni for your Sunday Joint” to the EU Love-In: Scottish Nationalism's Generational Shift in Framing Europe Section 3: Public Opinion, Nationalism and Generational Change 8. Openness to Secession: An Age–Period–Cohort Analysis of Support for Secession in Catalonia, 1991–2019 9. Nationalist Attitudes and Nationalist Party Support through a Generational Lens: The Case of Quebec 10. Disentangling the Relationship Between Age and Support for Independence in Scotland 11. Immigrants’ Relationship with Quebec: Does the Context of Arrival have a Formative Effect? Conclusion 12. Conclusion: The Quebec/Scotland/Catalonia Triad Revisited Index