Nationalism and Foreign Policy in Quebec

National Interests and Foreign Policy

• National interests refer to goals or objectives that benefit a nation's overall welfare and security
• Foreign policy involves strategies employed by a nation to protect its interests in international relations

Quebec Nationalism

• Quiet Revolution: a period of intense socio-political and socio-cultural change in Quebec during the 1960s, aimed at modernizing Quebec's institutions and diminishing the Catholic Church's influence
• FLQ/October Crisis: a series of events in October 1970 involving the kidnapping of a British diplomat and a Quebec cabinet minister, leading to the invocation of the War Measures Act
• Pierre Elliot Trudeau: the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, known for his strong stance against Quebec separatism and his implementation of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis
• Sovereigntist vs Federalist: Sovereigntists advocate for Quebec's independence from Canada, while Federalists support Quebec remaining a part of Canada

Quebec Referendums and Accords

• Quebec Referendums: two referendums held in 1980 and 1995, where Quebec voters decided on the question of sovereignty, both resulting in a majority voting against independence
• Meech Lake/Charlottetown Accords: failed constitutional amendments aimed at gaining Quebec's acceptance of the Constitution Act of 1982 and addressing broader constitutional reforms

Canadian Policy and Economy

• "Masters in our own house": a slogan from the Quiet Revolution emphasizing Quebec's desire for greater control over its affairs
• Equalization Payments: federal transfers to less wealthy Canadian provinces to ensure a similar level of public services across Canada
• National Energy Policy: a Canadian policy introduced in 1980 to promote energy self-sufficiency and economic growth, which was controversial in Western Canada

World War I

• Arms Race: a competitive buildup of military capabilities among nations, particularly between Germany and Britain leading up to WWI
• War of Attrition: a strategy to wear down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material
• Causes of WW1: MAIN (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism) and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Key Events and Figures of WWI

• Militarism: the belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war
• The Rape of Belgium: German atrocities against Belgian civilians during their invasion of Belgium
• Franz Ferdinand: Archduke of Austria-Hungary whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered the onset of WWI
• Balkan Wars: conflicts in the Balkans preceding WWI, contributing to tensions among European powers
• German Unification: the unification of German states in 1871, leading to a powerful German Empire
• Dardanelles: a strategic strait in Turkey, focus of the failed Gallipoli Campaign by the Allies
• Moroccan Crisis: two international crises over French control of Morocco, heightening tensions between Germany and France
• Treaty of Versailles: the peace treaty that ended WWI, placing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany
• Triple Entente: alliance of France, Russia, and Britain before and during WWI

Test your knowledge of Quebec's national interests, foreign policy, and self-determination, including the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. Explore the concepts and events that shaped the region's socio-political and cultural development.