Belonging : the paradox of citizenship

Summary: From one of Canada's most respected public figures comes a thoughtful look at the future of global citizenship. Never has the world experienced greater movement of peoples from one country to another, from one continent to another. Do these changes in population present the possibility of a new model for the structures of society? Does the Canadian model, which emphasizes values, immigration, parliamentary democracy, and the rule of law, make a fitting model for countries who still define themselves by religious difference or racial integrity? Can belonging encompass difference, dependence, and dislike, while upholding fundamental human rights? Clarkson masterfully chronicles the evolution of citizenship throughout the ages: to Aristotle and the Greeks, from the warring factions of the French revolution, to Icelandic law-making tradition, and present-day modern citizenship. She concludes by looking forward, vividly imagining what will happen if we don't live up to our ideals of democracy, identity, and belonging. Adrienne Clarkson became Canada's 26th Governor General in 1999 and served until September 2005.