‘Those people who chose us’: Discursive construction of identity and belonging in the context of Quebec’s 2018 provincial elections

Abstract

In the climate of the growing diversification of the ethnocultural landscape, Quebecers of French-Canadian background, often viewed as mistrustful of ethnic minorities, have been faced with the challenge of renegotiating the symbolic boundaries of what it means to be a Quebecer. This study investigates discursive construction of identity and belonging in a multi-text body of discourse generated in the context of the French-language party leader debates in the run-up to Quebec’s 2018 provincial elections, which brought to power the center-right Coalition Avenir Québec. A close textual analysis of discourse produced by the party leaders and by debate viewers commenting on the Facebook page of Radio-Canada during the debates’ live stream, following the research program of Critical Discourse Analysis, demonstrates an enduring ethnic bias in the conceptualization of Quebec identity by the dominant ingroup – Francophone Quebecers of French-Canadian origin – one that puts in jeopardy the inclusive, civic Quebec identity promoted in official discourse of the Quebec government.