The Invisible Empire: Racism in Canada

Shelley Butler teaches anthropology at York University.

This well-researched and comprehensive account of racism in contemporary
Canada examines racist incidents in the context of our institutions and
our daily lives. The author, an investigative journalist, predicts that
racism and immigration will be decisive forces in Canadian politics in
the next century. She appeals to readers to view racist incidents not as
isolated events, but as manifestations of a growing right-wing populism
that must be taken seriously. She shows how extremist groups such as the
Heritage Front attempt to present themselves as mainstream and
respectable. And she debunks theories that blame increases in crime and
unemployment on immigrants and employment equity.

The Invisible Empire is especially effective when Cannon relates her
own journey of coming to terms with the reality of white privilege and
systemic racism in Canada. Her forceful book will be of interest to
general readers and students of Canadian studies.