Narratives of citizenship
Project Lead(s)
Team Members
Phil Triadafilopoulos, Lisa Ruth Brunner, Irene Bloemraad (external link) , Taylor Jackson, Dhriti Mehta, Carolina Reyes Marquez, Cindy Janine Robin, Claudia Serrano, Kriti Sharma
Sub-theme
Content of citizenship
The sub-theme 'Content of citizenship' explores through different projects the meaning of citizenship beyond a legal status, as the expression of a collective identity grounded in a shared sense of belonging to a particular national community.
Objective
To provide an in-depth analysis of state-sponsored narratives of citizenship that seek to socialize newcomers to Canada into being “good” citizens.
Research question(s)
- What are the state-sponsored narratives of Canadian citizenship?
- What is distinctive about these constructions of Canadian identity, both over time, and as compared to other countries?
- What can account for change in conceptions of citizenship and the “good” citizen over time?
- To what degree is citizenship constructed in a relatively inclusive or exclusive manner?
Methodology
The research project will follow a mixed-methods approach.
Related projects
- Belonging in Unceded Territory (external link) (Antje Ellermann)
Status
This project is ongoing, with multiple outcomes being finalized. Teams at both the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto are exploring partnerships, collecting feedback, and working on publication submissions.
Expected completion date: March 2026
Outcomes
Publications:
Semowo, Elizabeth. 2025. “It’s Black History Month. Let’s Move Inclusion Beyond Visibility.” The Tyee, February 6. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/02/06/Black-History-Month-Inclusion-Beyond-Visibility/ (external link)
Past events and conferences:
- “Representations of Black, Forced Migrant, and Refugee Experiences in Citizenship Guides,” presented by Elizabeth Semowo, Pathways to Prosperity conference, Vancouver, Canada, November 25-26, 2024
- "Liberal Openness, Illiberal Closure, and the False Promise of Managed Migration", presented by Phil Triadafilopoulos, Carolina Reyes Marquez, Taylor Jackson, Canadian Ethnic Studies Association Conference, Edmonton, AB, November 14-16, 2024.
- “Narratives of Indigeneity and settler identity in citizenship study guides,” presented by Lisa Brunner and Antje Ellermann, Canadian Ethnic Studies Association Conference, Edmonton, AB, November 16, 2024
- “The negotiation of Canadian citizenship narratives in the settlement sector,” presented by Adrienne Bale, Marcela Fuller, and Lisa Brunner, Metropolis Identities conference, Vancouver, Canada, October 30-31, 2024
- “Representations of equity-denied groups in Canadian citizenship guides,” presented by Anjana Donakonda, Metropolis Identities conference, Vancouver, Canada, October 30-31, 2024
Key words
Citizenship; citizenship narratives; narrative; state-sponsored narratives
