New Lessons for (and from) the Old World: A study of the politicisation of regional identity in Nova Scotia & North East England

Abstract

In his introductory lecture at the Negotiating Diversity Conference, Bhikhu Parekh stated that even without immigration, Canada and Europe would still have to deal with issues of diversity. Lord Parekh’s statement was correct; Canada and Europe are two extremely diverse jurisdictions. Canada is a continentspanning state, representing the union of separate colonies and two major linguistic groups. Europe is a collection of ancient nations and states currently undergoing one of the modern era’s most exciting political experiments: the European Union. Both are experiencing high levels of immigration from all corners of the earth while their birth rates decline. However, to understand how states deal with issues of diversity one must be aware of the various manifestations of diversity within a state, and how they fit within larger patterns of accommodation and integration.