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What Is a Nation

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Submitted By cynthiald
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What is a Nation? A nation is an identity shared by a large number of people based on, but not reducible to things such as ethnicity, language, religion, customs and government. To break it down more you have Ethnic Nations and Civic Nations. Ethnic Nation is where national identity is based on such things as language, ancestry and religion, contrary to Civic Nations where national identity depends primarily on acceptance of the political order.

Canada became a nation in 1867 from the fathers of confederation. But what kind of Nation state is Canada, in the beginning of Confederation Canada was a Bi-National state (where two nations co exist within a single state.) The two nations were made up of Anglophones and the Francophones, therefore it had two Ethnic Nations represented, however this did not include our aboriginals. Some people argue that present day Canada is a Multi-National state (where three or more nations share a single state.) This time referring to three Ethnic nations inside of our state, Anglophones, Francophones, and now to include our Aboriginal. However, I do not feel that this represents Canada in its entirety. I believe that modern day Canada is a Preponderant Nation state (Where a single nation is preponderant, but significant minorities exist with the state.) I believe that Canada is first a Civic Nation, our identity depends on acceptance of the political order, however there are many Ethnic Nations inside of our Civic Nation.

In order for Canada to be a truly multicultural Country we must recognize all Nations that reside inside our great state. Yes, early on our Nation was comprised of Anglophone, Francophone and Aboriginal, however it also has huge Muslim, Seek, Hindu and many more nations within its borders. And those minorities are equally Canadian. Therefore, we are a Preponderant Nation state. Canadians are a Civic Nation

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