September 11th resurrected an historic sovereignty debate, one that burst into full flame when Canadians, led by Prime Minister Jean Chrtien, made the unprecedented decision not to fight alongside their American allies in Iraq.

This book explores the relationship between modern Canadian nationalism, cultural policy, popular discourse, and the lives of ordinary Canadians.

Dr. Robert Wright argues that Canadians' understanding of art, culture, unity, identity, and sovereignty are formed by conflicting forces; out of conditions of contradiction, paradox, and irony, Canadians have developed remarkably sophisticated cultural and political strategies for deriving pleasure, prosperity, and peace of mind. Living with contradiction has always been a fact of Canadian life; paradox of tolerance has been the critical framework that has made this living not only possible but the envy of the world.