Globalization, corporate nationalism and masculinity in Canada: sport, Molson beer advertising and consumer citizenship

Abstract

Within the context of globalization, nations have increasingly become the object of both production and consumption. Consequently, directly or indirectly citizens are being conceptualized, appealed to and transformed into consumers. A key driving force in this transformation is the diverse range of multinational corporations (MNCs) that engage in what is referred to as corporate nationalism – a process that seeks to capitalize upon the nation as a source of collective identification. This paper sets forth to explore (1) the nature and significance of corporate nationalism within the context of globalization; (2) the nature and significance of the ‘holy trinity’ – sport, beer and masculinity; (3) a case study of one specific Molson Canadian beer advertising campaign to illustrate how it serves as a manual of both masculinity and national identity in Canada; (4) the role of cultural intermediaries in reproducing dominant forms of masculinity; and (5) the implications of corporate nationalism and the holy trinity for understanding the reproduction of masculinity in an increasingly global world.