Félix Mathieu - Böcker

In so-called post-factual societies, where public debates are undermined by their false or misleading premises, philosophers who have reflected on diversity and pluralism can offer a critical and clarifying perspective through which to evaluate the statements of politicians and the media.Félix Mathieu offers a theoretical, empirical, and normative analysis of the debates surrounding the accommodation of ethnocultural and societal diversity in contemporary liberal democracies. With a close lens on Canada, he looks at case studies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to test political leaders' and analysts' claims of successful accommodation and pluralism. Taking Pluralism Seriously provides a clear, fair, and helpful summary of the debate so far in order to understand the promises and pitfalls associated with theories of multiculturalism, interculturalism, federalism, and multinational democracy, investigating the conditions that might make it possible for different national communities to become fully empowered, politically and culturally.Taking Pluralism Seriously invites readers to explore questions of pluralism and accommodation and proposes political reforms to meet the challenges arising from diversity, while considering some of the most pressing concerns complex societies are facing today.

In so-called post-factual societies, where public debates are undermined by their false or misleading premises, philosophers who have reflected on diversity and pluralism can offer a critical and clarifying perspective through which to evaluate the statements of politicians and the media.Félix Mathieu offers a theoretical, empirical, and normative analysis of the debates surrounding the accommodation of ethnocultural and societal diversity in contemporary liberal democracies. With a close lens on Canada, he looks at case studies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to test political leaders' and analysts' claims of successful accommodation and pluralism. Taking Pluralism Seriously provides a clear, fair, and helpful summary of the debate so far in order to understand the promises and pitfalls associated with theories of multiculturalism, interculturalism, federalism, and multinational democracy, investigating the conditions that might make it possible for different national communities to become fully empowered, politically and culturally.Taking Pluralism Seriously invites readers to explore questions of pluralism and accommodation and proposes political reforms to meet the challenges arising from diversity, while considering some of the most pressing concerns complex societies are facing today.

Non-sovereign nations are fragile: not because they lack identity but because their futures depend on sustained collective efforts to preserve institutions, cultures, and political autonomy while they remain unequal partners within constitutional frameworks.In a brilliant sociopolitical analysis of five non-sovereign nations – Catalonia, Northern Ireland, Wallonia, South Tyrol, and Quebec – Félix Mathieu offers new empirical evidence that a state’s constitutional character shapes the management of national diversity and advances novel ideas for creating authentic multinational democracies. Beginning with each state’s formative rupture and unfolding through the twists of political modernity, Fragile Nations shows how political, social, and economic forces interact with constitutional structures. It examines how unitary or federal states enable or constrain minority nations in building institutions and shaping their destinies. Mathieu brings empirical depth to theoretical debates and takes a compelling look at the democratic principles of pluralism and equity, which can sustain fairer, more inclusive multinational states.Fragile Nation engages in questions about nationalism, federalism, minority nations, and the challenges of governance, enriching wider conversations about identity, sovereignty, and coexistence in diverse societies.

For decades following the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords constitutional debate in Canada appeared largely dormant. This situation has changed markedly in recent years. Since 2021 Alberta has held a provincial referendum proposing the abolition of equalization, Quebec and Saskatchewan have each unilaterally amended the 1867 Constitution Act, and a bilateral constitutional amendment concerning Saskatchewan has been proclaimed with the support of Parliament.Amid the stagnation that has characterized constitutional amendment processes from the early 1990s onward, these developments are highly significant. They signal a renewed dynamism in Canadian constitutional politics driven by provincial action and warranting careful and systematic analysis. Bringing together contributions from leading experts, From Multilateral Failures to Unilateral Successes? maps the impacts of recent and ongoing constitutional developments. Chapters examine instances of unilateral provincial action, offer analytical perspectives on the broader implications of these developments for federal authority, and explore the conditions under which provincial unilateralism may succeed. As the book shows, these initiatives operate within a political and constitutional framework where bilateral and multilateral options remain available but under-exploited.At a moment when the Canadian constitution is once again being tested and reshaped, this volume makes a timely and essential contribution, demonstrating that constitutional change is not only possible but already underway.

This book provides an in-depth analysis of how constitutionalism and diversity can be friends and foes alike in contemporary multinational democracies. By focusing mainly on the dynamics between Quebec and Canada and comparing these with ongoing issues in Catalonia and Spain, Flanders and Belgium, and South Tyrol and Italy, the authors offer new insights into the public management of national diversity. In doing so, they sought to unpack the numerous challenges divided societies are facing.The pieces that together form the title of this book are not merely of symbolic significance. Constitutionalism v Diversity: Essays on Federal Democracy echoes the four underlying principles of the Canadian Constitution that the Supreme Court of Canada identified in its famous 1998　Reference re Secession of Quebec. These are (1) federalism, (2) democracy, (3) constitutionalism and the rule of law, and (4) protection of minorities. While these four concepts are at the very core of both authors’ argument and approach, the Supreme Court of Canada’s Secession Reference is guiding them through the book by providing a robust and meaningful theoretical and analytical framework. These principles appear as universal normative parameters societies should see as ideals to pursue and translate – while adapting their content to the specific context – into concrete institutions and practices. Even more today this book shows the great analytical value of these four principles to critically appraise of the way multinational liberal democracies in general and federal systems in particular are evolving.

This edited volume provides a solid yet accessible set of contributions for students, specialists and practitioners of federalism. It also reflects a commitment to normalising the connection between federal studies and scholarship on pluralism and diversity management. To shed light on a specific theme through a rigorous and comprehensive approach, most chapters compare at least two federal systems in connection with a given institutional matter or area of public policy. Acknowledgements The editors of the volume would like to extend their warmest thanks to the Programme d'appui à la recherche of the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes, the Groupe de recherche sur les sociétés plurinationales, the Centre d'analyse politique – Constitution et fédéralisme, and the Canada Research Chair in Quebec and Canadian Studies. This project would not have been possible without their most generous support. The editors would also like to thank the entire editorial team at Palgrave Macmillan. In particular, they are grateful to Soeren Keil and Eva Maria Belser, who enthusiastically welcomed the present project into their Federalism and Internal Conflicts series, and to Ambra Finotello, Hemapriya Eswanth and Zeenathul Raeesa Ismail for their editorial support. They would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers who helped to improve the overall quality of this collective work.- Félix, Dave, and Alain