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Language Matters: The Study of Canadian Politics through an Exploration of Syllabi and Comprehensive Exams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2022

Jean-François Daoust Open the ORCID record for Jean-François Daoust [Opens in a new window] ,
Alain-G. Gagnon  and
Thomas Galipeau
Jean-François Daoust*
Affiliation:
School of Applied Politics, Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines, 2500, boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LD, United Kingdom
Alain-G. Gagnon
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Pavillon Hubert-Aquin, bureau A-3455, 1255 Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 3R9, Canada
Thomas Galipeau
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, SS 3018, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: jf.daoust@usherbrooke.ca
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Abstract

The representation of Canada's two main linguistic groups in the teaching of Canadian politics is crucial, but we know little about it. In this article, we analyze the systemic underrepresentation of francophone authors in Canadian political science by examining the research that students are exposed to. Based on data from 351 syllabi across 42 Canadian universities, as well as data from the reading list of the doctoral qualifying field exams in Canadian politics, our findings show that francophone authors are systemically underrepresented (when not totally absent). About 38 per cent of Canadian politics courses include no francophone authors in their reading lists. Our findings suggest that Canadian politics is not an inclusive and comprehensive field. This result entails important implications not only for current professors and students but also for the profession more generally, given that the students who will make up tomorrow's faculties in Canadian universities are shaped by these biases.

Résumé

Résumé

La représentation des deux principaux groupes linguistiques au Canada dans l'enseignement de la politique canadienne est déterminante, mais nous en savons encore très peu sur le sujet. Dans cet article, nous analysons la sous-représentation systémique des auteurs francophones en politique canadienne. En utilisant les données de 351 plans de cours provenant de 42 universités canadiennes ainsi que les données de la liste de lecture de l'examen de synthèse au doctorat dans le champ de la politique canadienne, nos résultats montrent que les auteurs francophones sont systématiquement sous-représentés (quand ils ne sont pas totalement absents). Environ 38% des cours de politique canadienne n'incluent aucun auteur francophone dans leur liste de lectures obligatoires. Bien que leur représentation soit légèrement meilleure sur la liste de lecture de l'examen de synthèse, nous concluons que les francophones demeurent systématiquement sous-représentés à tous les niveaux. Nos résultats suggèrent que la politique canadienne n'est pas un champ favorisant l'inclusion et que cela entraîne des conséquences importantes pour les professeurs et étudiants actuels, de même que pour la discipline en général compte tenu du fait que les étudiant.e.s qui composeront le corps professoral de demain dans les universités canadiennes seront façonné.e.s par cette vision partiale et partielle de la réalité.

Keywords

Canadian politicsrepresentationlanguagesocializationhigher educationReprésentationLanguePolitique canadienneSocialisationÉducation supérieure
Type
Research Article/Étude originale
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 2022 , pp. 897 - 915
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Canadian Political Science Association (l’Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique

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