Ruptures et continuités dans la représentation de l’immigration. Une analyse préliminaire du journal Le Devoir (1910-1963)

An examination of the roots of the current attitudes of Francophone Quebecers towards immigrants to the province by looking at the historically negative attitudes exemplified in the anti-immigrant editorials in the French-language nationalist Montreal newspaper, Le Devoir, between 1910 and 1963. The author points out that the encounter with immigrants and the reality of pluralism had already been experienced by Francophones more than a hundred years ago, despite the fact that it left few positive traces in the Quebec historical narrative. He states that one could go as far as to consider that the reluctance and the hostile perceptions that are found today among some Québécois can be retraced to this not-so distant past. To better understand what the author calls the "trauma" experienced in this respect by certain Francophones, he critically studies 16,000 editorials that appeared in Le Devoir during the period under review and having to do with the integration of new immigrants. He points out that Le Devoir often sustained a position of visceral rejection vis-à-vis the welcoming of immigrants into Francophone Quebec. He argues that these declarations made in the past help us measure today the extent of the xenophobic reticence manifested on this question in certain circles in the province.

Anthropologie et Sociétés

Vol. 41

no. 3

107-129

2017

fr