The Civil Sphere in Canada - by Jeffrey C Alexander & Mervyn Horgan Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Shows why a socially just, inclusive society hinges on a robust and dynamic civil sphere.

When activists, advocates, victims of injustice, and ordinary citizens seek to advance (or block) social justice and cohesion, they typically 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 behaviors 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 welcomes Canadian voices into a burgeoning international debate about the role of the civil sphere in effecting social justice.

About the Author

Jeffrey C. Alexander is the Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Yale University, as well as the founder and codirector of Yale's Center for Cultural Sociology. He is the author of several books, including The Civil Sphere, Civil Repair, and What Makes a Social Crisis?Mervyn Horgan is associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph.