The Empire Within : Postcolonial Thought and Political Activism in Sixties Montreal

A compelling study of the global dimensions and local particularities of political activism in Sixties Montreal. In a brilliant history of a turbulent time and place, Mills pulls back the curtain on the decade's activists and intellectuals, showing their engagement both with each other and with people from around the world. He demonstrates how activists of different backgrounds and with different political aims drew on ideas of decolonization to rethink the meanings attached to the politics of sex, race, and class and to imagine themselves as part of a broad transnational movement of anti-colonial and anti-imperialist resistance. The temporary unity forged around ideas of decolonization came undone in the 1970s, however, as many were forced to come to terms with the contradictions and ambiguities of applying ideas of decolonization in Quebec. From linguistic debates to labour unions, and from the political activities of citizens in the city's poorest neighbourhoods to its Caribbean intellectuals, The Empire Within is a political tour of Montreal that reconsiders the meaning and legacy of the city's dissident traditions. It is also a fascinating chapter in the history of postcolonial thought. In A Brilliant History Of A Turbulent Time And Place, Mills Pulls Back The Curtain On The Decade S Activists And Intellectuals, Showing Their Engagement Both With Each Other And With People From Around The World. He Demonstrates How Activists Of Different Backgrounds And With Different Political Aims Drew On Ideas Of Decolonization To Rethink The Meanings Attached To The Politics Of Sex, Race, And Class And To Imagine Themselves As Part Of A Broad Transnational Movement Of Anti-colonial And Anti-imperialist Resistance. The Temporary Unity Forged Around Ideas Of Decolonization Came Undone In The 1970s, However, As Many Were Forced To Come To Terms With The Contradictions And Ambiguities Of Applying Ideas Of Decolonization In Quebec. From Linguistic Debates To Labour Unions, And From The Political Activities Of Citizens In The City S Poorest Neighbourhoods To Its Caribbean Intellectuals, The Empire Within Is A Political Tour Of Montreal That Reconsiders The Meaning And Legacy Of The City S Dissident Traditions. It Is Also A Fascinating Chapter In The History Of Postcolonial Thought. "This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Aid to Scholarly Publications Programme, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada." "McGill-Queen's University Press acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities."--Jacket Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction PART ONE: 1963–1968 1 Empire, Democracy, and Montreal 2 The Antecedents 3 The International Dimension of Resistance Illustrations PART TWO: 1968–1972 4 Montreal’s Black Renaissance 5 Québécoises deboutte! 6 The Language of Liberation 7 The CSN, the FLQ, and the October Crisis 8 Labour, Empire, and May 1972 Conclusion: May Day, 1973 Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y