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This reproduction is the best copy available UMI COMMUNITARIAN LOYALTIES IN A BORDERLESS WORLD: GLOBALlZATlON AND POLITICAL ALLEGJANCES IN BELGIUM, CANADA AND ITALY Livianna Stephanie Tossutti A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Ph.D. Graduate Department of Political Science University of Toronto O Copyright by Livianna Stephanie Tossutti (1998) National Library Bibliothèque nationale of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Onawa ON KI A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une ticence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seil reproduire, prêter, disîribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic fonnats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othecwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation, Communitarian Loyalties in a Borderless World: Globalization and Political Allegiances in Belgium, Canada and ltaly Livianna Stephanie Tossutti Ph& 1998 Department of Political Science University of Toronto Abstract: The persistenœ of ethnic andlor regional movements in advanced capitalist societies has defied the predictions of many integrationist theorists who have argued that modemization would eradicate sub-state loyalties. In much of the scholarly literature, ethno-regional movements were held to be parochial reactions against modernity. The post-war resurgence of communitarian parties in the face of globalization processes suggests that sub-state identlies may be compatible with post- modemity. There is a growing body of literature which suggests that in a borderless world, citizens will use their increased individuation capacities to reassert ethnic, territorial and other sub-state identities in the face of centralization and cultural homogenization pressures. This shift in political allegiances to more immediate geographic areas and lower-order govemments - the so-called "new" localisrn - is held to be the product of rational evaluations that the central state can no longer fulfil the instrumental and psychological needs of citizens. In order to detemine whether conternporary ethno-regionalism is parochial or post-modern, a survey and personal interviews exploring the ideological and issue orientations, lifestyles and sociodemographic backgrounds of party members in the iii Bloc Québécois, Volksunie and Northem League were wnducted. In al1 three cases, the parties demonstrated an ability to appeal to both "traditional" and "post-modern" elements within their respective communities. This finding, in addition to evidence which points to a high level of intemal cohesion between party members, suggests that communitarian parties have the potential to persist in the face of transnational pressures. The study also shows that transnational trends, considered along with domesticdriented, exogenous, endogenous and intervening va riables, can help explain contemporary cornmunitarianism. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During the course of my research, rny joumeys across Europe and my own country brought me into contact with many people who helped further my understanding of ethnic and regional identities. My sincere gratitude is extended to al1 those party officiais and members who participated in the survey and personal interviews. I appreciate the tirne you gave me, as well as your insightful comments in the interviews and questionnaires. There were several party members who deserve special mention for the role they played in ensuring the successful completion of this project. They include Bert Anciaux and Els Van Weert of the Volksunie, Fabrizio Bruno of the Lega Nord, the riding presidents from the Bloc Québécois, and Daniel Germain, my interviewer in Quebec. My parents, Victor and Therese Tossutti, have supported me throughout this joumey, and throughout the only other joumey that could possibly rival this one for the range of emotions which the traveller experiences - the one through life. My supenhsor Lawrence LeDuc has provideci me with guidance since 1989, when I was still working in journalisrn and communications. Thank you for inspiring me to pursue a career in political science. Having the opportunity to learn from you has truly changed my life. Dr. Ronald Wagenberg and Professor Richard Price from the University of Windsor also deserve thanks for their continued faith in me. Finally, the other members of my dissertation cornmittee, Doctors Richard Simeon and Joy Esberey, were brilliant critics of my work Dr. Liesbet Hooghe, Dr. Neil Nevitte and Dr. Roger 07001e al1 demonstrated why the University of Toronto is an internationally-renowned institution which attracts the finest academics. To Dr. Michael Keating, my external examiner, you have challenged me to think differently about my subject, which is al1 anyone who is seeking the truth can ask for. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables Chapter One Introduction Chapter Two The Communitarian Universe Chapter Three The Demographic Base of Cornmunitarianism Chapter Four Issues, ldeology and Representation Chapter Five Individuation, Mobility, and Culture Chapter Six lntemal Diversity Chapter Seven Territorial Loyalties and State Failure Chapter Eight Post-modemity and Tradition Notes References and Interview List Appendix 1 Post-war Communitarian Parties, By State Appendix 2 Questionnaires and Currency Coding LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES TABLE 2.0 Post-war cornmunitarian parties: Relevance and Average Lifespan, by state 55 TABLE 2.1 Communitarian parties: Australia-Belgium Appendix 1 TABLE 2.2 Communitarian parties: Canada-Finland Appendix 1 TABLE 2.3 Communitarian parties: France-lreland Appendix 1 TABLE 2.4 Communitarian parties: lsrael Appendix 1 TABLE 2.5 Cornmunitarian parties: lsrael Appendix 1 TABLE 2.6 Cornmunitarian parties: ltaly Appendix 1 TABLE 2.7 Cornmunitarian parties: Netherlands-Portugal Appendix 1 TABLE 2.8 Communitarian parties: Spain Appendix 1 TABLE 2.9 Cornmunitarian parties: Spain-U.K. Appendix 1 TABLE 2.10 Communitarian parties: United Kingdom-United States Appendix 1 TABLE 2.11 Volksunie popular vote (W), House of Representatives elections: 1954-1995 TABLE 2.12 Lega Nord popular vote (%) in Chamber elections, by region: 1994-1996 TABLE 3.1 Socio-demographic background of party members TABLE 3.2 Workplace profile of autonomist party members TABLE 3.3 Household income of party members TABLE 4.1 Top three issue preferences of party mernbers TABLE 4.2 Attitudes about federalism and immigration TABLE 4.3 Most representative level of govemment TABLE 4.4 ldeological orientation of party members TABLE 4.5 Correlations between perceptions of issues, govemment and selected variables: VU TABLE 4.6 Correlations between perceptions of issues, govemment and selected variables: LN TABLE 4.7 Correlations between perceptions of issues, govemment, mobility and demogaphic variables: LN TABLE 4.8 Correlations between perceptions of issues, govemment and selected variables: BQ TABLE 4.9 Issue perceptions, mobility and demographic variables: BQ TABLE 5.1 Geographic identification of party members TABLE 5.2 Mobility 8 community involvement TABLE 5.3 Travel and language patterns TABLE 5.4 lnterest in culture and technology TABLE 5.5 Relationship between identity, issues, mobility cultural and demographic characteristics: VU TABLE 5.6 Relationship between cultural interests, mobility and demographic characteristics: VU TABLE 5.7 Identity, issues, mobility and cultural interests: LN TABLE 5.8 Correlations between mobility indicators: LN TABLE 5.9 Relationships between identity, mobility and demographic characteristics TABLE 5.10 Identity, ideology, mobility and cultural interests: BQ viii TABLE 5.11 Cultural interests, mobility and demography: BQ FIGURE 5.12 Non-recursive causal model of factors infiuencing local and regional identification: VU FIGURE 5.1 3 Non-recursive causal model of factors influencing local and regional identification: LN TABLE 6.1 Intra-party differences on representation and immigration issues: VU TABLE 6.2 Intra-party ideological differences: VU TABLE 6.3 lntra-party differences on representation and immigration issues: LN TABLE 6.4 Inta-party incorne, ideological differences: LN TABLE 6.5 lntraparty differences on representation and immigration issues: BQ TABLE 6.6 lntraparty differences on identity issues: VU TABLE 6.7 Intra-party differences on identity issues: LN TABLE 6.8 Intra-party differences on identity issues: BQ TABLE 6.9 Intra-party differences in travel frequency and technology usage: VU TABLE 6.10 lntraparty differences in travel frequency and technology usage: VU TABLE 6.1 1 Intra-party differences on cultural, mobility patterns: VU TABLE 6.12 Intra-party differences in travel frequency and technology