"Diasporas, Dual Loyalties, and Suspect Minorities: the (Canadian) Jewish Case"

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Abstract:
Countries which are diverse and formed largely through waves of immigration — like Canada — must face issues of competing identities and perhaps loyalties within their populations. At times these loyalties reflect competing values and interests, as well as the effects of victimization. When minority rights and interests are defended vigorously these minorities can be perceived as suspect. The Jewish group in its long diasporic history, often as an iconic “other,” has encountered these dilemmas and accusations regularly.
This is true even for the Canadian Jewish community, which is at the same time highly integrated even while many members perceive themselves in an ongoing marginal position. Transnational ties of diasporic groups may continue to pose challenges even for ostensibly liberal-democratic societies such as Canada.

Speaker bio: Morton Weinfeld is a Professor of Sociology at McGill University, where he holds the Chair in Canadian Ethnic Studies and directs the Minor Program in Canadian Ethnic and Racial Studies. In 2018-2019 he is a Visiting Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, as well as at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.