The Patriot Game (book)
Encyclopedia
The Patriot Game: National Dreams and Political Realities is a book originally published in 1986 by British-American author Peter Brimelow
. It was later re-released in 1988 under the title The Patriot Game: Canada and the Canadian Question Revisited
The book consists of Brimelow's self-described attempt to "provide a general theory of Canada
," the country where he had lived and worked for several years in the 1970s. In it, he consciously echoes the comments of 19th century author Goldwin Smith
in his book Canada and the Canadian Question
and argues that modern Canada is largely a farce, an unnatural country without a clear guiding purpose or reason for existence. He attributes this to the decline of English Canadian
imperial nationalism, common during the Victorian
times and the first decades of the 20th century, but subsequently removed from the national consciousness in the post-WW2 era. In the place of this old form of nationalism, he writes that Canada has come to be dominated by the partisan nationalism of the Liberal Party of Canada
that seeks to redefine Canadian values according to its own political philosophy.
Brimelow is also harshly critical of Quebec
's role in modern Canada, and expresses support for Quebec separatism, arguing that there is no rational basis for keeping the French-speaking province in an overwhelmingly English-speaking state. He criticizes Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau
for introducing bilingualism, which he portrays as an ill-conceived scheme which has created a new bilingual class of governing elites, and kept the vast majority of English-speaking Canadians virtually disenfranchised.
The book is notable in that it successfully predicted two of the major shakeups of the Canadian political system that occurred in the 1990s. Arguing that the political status quo of the 1980s was inherently unstable, Brimelow predicted that sooner or later Canada would see the rise of two new federal political parties, one a right-wing, western-based one, and the other a Quebec-based separatist one. This indeed proved to happen with the rise of the Reform Party
and the Bloc Québécois
, both of which captured a great number of parliamentary seats in the 1993 federal election
. Brimelow also predicted that western Canadian separatism was likely to emerge as a vibrant political force in the coming decades, but this prediction has not yet shown signs of coming true.
Peter Brimelow
Peter Brimelow is a British American financial journalist, author, and founder of VDARE. Brimelow has been the editor of many publications, including Forbes, the Financial Post, and National Review...
. It was later re-released in 1988 under the title The Patriot Game: Canada and the Canadian Question Revisited
The book consists of Brimelow's self-described attempt to "provide a general theory of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
," the country where he had lived and worked for several years in the 1970s. In it, he consciously echoes the comments of 19th century author Goldwin Smith
Goldwin Smith
Goldwin Smith was a British-Canadian historian and journalist.- Early years :He was born at Reading, Berkshire. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and after a brilliant undergraduate career he was elected to a fellowship at University College, Oxford...
in his book Canada and the Canadian Question
Canada and the Canadian Question
Canada and the Canadian Question was a 1891 book written by British-Canadian author Goldwin Smith.The book analyzes 19th Century Canada, with Smith arguing that the country was a profoundly unnatural one that had no real reason to exist...
and argues that modern Canada is largely a farce, an unnatural country without a clear guiding purpose or reason for existence. He attributes this to the decline of English Canadian
English Canadian
An English Canadian is a Canadian of English ancestry; it is used primarily in contrast with French Canadian. Canada is an officially bilingual state, with English and French official language communities. Immigrant cultural groups ostensibly integrate into one or both of these communities, but...
imperial nationalism, common during the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
times and the first decades of the 20th century, but subsequently removed from the national consciousness in the post-WW2 era. In the place of this old form of nationalism, he writes that Canada has come to be dominated by the partisan nationalism of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
that seeks to redefine Canadian values according to its own political philosophy.
Brimelow is also harshly critical of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
's role in modern Canada, and expresses support for Quebec separatism, arguing that there is no rational basis for keeping the French-speaking province in an overwhelmingly English-speaking state. He criticizes Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
for introducing bilingualism, which he portrays as an ill-conceived scheme which has created a new bilingual class of governing elites, and kept the vast majority of English-speaking Canadians virtually disenfranchised.
The book is notable in that it successfully predicted two of the major shakeups of the Canadian political system that occurred in the 1990s. Arguing that the political status quo of the 1980s was inherently unstable, Brimelow predicted that sooner or later Canada would see the rise of two new federal political parties, one a right-wing, western-based one, and the other a Quebec-based separatist one. This indeed proved to happen with the rise of the Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
and the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
, both of which captured a great number of parliamentary seats in the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
. Brimelow also predicted that western Canadian separatism was likely to emerge as a vibrant political force in the coming decades, but this prediction has not yet shown signs of coming true.