Symptoms of Canada: An Essay on the Canadian Identity

Joseph Garcea is a professor of political Studies at the University of
Saskatchewan.

This book about the ongoing search for the elusive Canadian identity
explores the various factors that frustrate that search, the
sociocultural and sociopolitical bases of the Canadian identity, and the
possibility of fostering unity and harmony in this country. Keohane
incorporates in his examination discussions of literature, political
culture, and multiculturalism policy; the tendency of Canadians to
define themselves in relation to some foreign other; and some dimensions
of the Canadian identity, including existentialism and postmodernism.
The existentialist perspective produces the observation that “Canada
doesn’t exist, there is an empty space in the heart of the nation.”

The book has a postmodern look and feel, and readers will be challenged
by its multidisciplinary approach. Chapter titles include “The
Existentialist Ethics of a Canadian Party,” “Erotocizing the
Wilderness,” and “Shit with the Bear.” If these titles capture
your imagination, then you should find reading Symptoms of Canada a
rewarding experience.