1. Caste, race, ethnicity, nationality Are cultural inventions designed to create boundaries around one or another imagined community. Are cultural inventions designed to create boundaries around one or another imagined community.

2. Imagined Community A community socially constructed and ultimately imagined by the people who perceive themselves as part of that group. A community socially constructed and ultimately imagined by the people who perceive themselves as part of that group.

3. Imagined Community Is not (and cannot be) based on quotidian face-to-face interaction between its members. Instead, members hold in their minds a mental image of their affinity. Is not (and cannot be) based on quotidian face-to-face interaction between its members. Instead, members hold in their minds a mental image of their affinity.

4. Benedict Anderson A nation "is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion". A nation "is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion".

5. None of the categories outlined maps onto permanent biological subdivisions within the human species, although members of societies that employ these categories often will invoke “nature” to reinforce their legitimacy. None of the categories outlined maps onto permanent biological subdivisions within the human species, although members of societies that employ these categories often will invoke “nature” to reinforce their legitimacy.

6. Caste The word “caste” comes from the Portuguese word casta, meaning “chaste.” The word “caste” comes from the Portuguese word casta, meaning “chaste.” Portuguese explorers applied this word to the stratification systems they encountered in South Asia in the 15 th century. Portuguese explorers applied this word to the stratification systems they encountered in South Asia in the 15 th century.

7. What is a date today in Canada?

8. Caste These societies were divided into a hierarchy of ranked subgroups, each of which was “chaste” in the sense that sexual and marital links across group boundaries were forbidden. These societies were divided into a hierarchy of ranked subgroups, each of which was “chaste” in the sense that sexual and marital links across group boundaries were forbidden.

9. In anthropological terms, we say that these groups are endogamous. In anthropological terms, we say that these groups are endogamous.

10. Endogamy Marriage within a defined social group. Marriage within a defined social group.

11. For this reason, many anthropologists agree that caste is fundamentally a form of kinship. For this reason, many anthropologists agree that caste is fundamentally a form of kinship.

12. This endogamy, which is enforced, means that membership in such groups is determined by birth and for life. This endogamy, which is enforced, means that membership in such groups is determined by birth and for life.

13. In societies where descent is regarded as a crucial and persistent principle almost any social division can become stabilized in a caste-like form. In societies where descent is regarded as a crucial and persistent principle almost any social division can become stabilized in a caste-like form.

14. Castification Political process by which ethnic or other groups become part of a rank order of some kind, probably orchestrated from the top, but which need not result in the construction of a caste system. Political process by which ethnic or other groups become part of a rank order of some kind, probably orchestrated from the top, but which need not result in the construction of a caste system.

15. The principle of descent has also played a central role in the identification and persistence of race, ethnicity and nation. The principle of descent has also played a central role in the identification and persistence of race, ethnicity and nation. These three categories are closely bound up with historical developments over the past 500 years that built the modern world. These three categories are closely bound up with historical developments over the past 500 years that built the modern world.

16. Race A human population category whose boundaries allegedly correspond to distinct sets of biological attributes. A human population category whose boundaries allegedly correspond to distinct sets of biological attributes.

17. The concept of race is biologically and genetically meaningless. The concept of race is biologically and genetically meaningless.

18. However, racial thinking persists at the beginning of the twenty-first century. However, racial thinking persists at the beginning of the twenty-first century. This means that racial categories have their origins not in biology but in society. This means that racial categories have their origins not in biology but in society.

19. Race is a culturally constructed social category whose members are identified on the basis of certain selected phenotypic features that all of them are said to share. Race is a culturally constructed social category whose members are identified on the basis of certain selected phenotypic features that all of them are said to share.

20. The end result is a highly distorted set of criteria that members of a society can use to assign people they see to one or another culturally defined racial category. The end result is a highly distorted set of criteria that members of a society can use to assign people they see to one or another culturally defined racial category.

21. Then, members can treat racial categories as if they reflect biological reality, using them to build institutions that include or exclude particular culturally defined races. In this way, race can become “real” in its consequences, even if it has no reality in biology. Then, members can treat racial categories as if they reflect biological reality, using them to build institutions that include or exclude particular culturally defined races. In this way, race can become “real” in its consequences, even if it has no reality in biology.

22. Racialism Belief in the existence of biologically distinct races. Belief in the existence of biologically distinct races.

23. Racism The systematic oppression of one or more socially defined “races” by another socially defined “race.” The systematic oppression of one or more socially defined “races” by another socially defined “race.”

24. Ethnicity A principle of social classification used to create groups based on selected cultural features such as language, religion or dress. A principle of social classification used to create groups based on selected cultural features such as language, religion or dress. Ethnicity emerges from historical process that incorporate distinct social groups into a political structure under conditions of inequality. Ethnicity emerges from historical process that incorporate distinct social groups into a political structure under conditions of inequality.

25. Ethnicity Develops as members of different groups try to make sense of the material constraints they experience within the political structure that confines them. Develops as members of different groups try to make sense of the material constraints they experience within the political structure that confines them. Is the struggle between self-ascription and other-ascription. Is the struggle between self-ascription and other-ascription.

26. Self-Ascription Insiders’ efforts to define their own identity. Insiders’ efforts to define their own identity.

27. Other-Ascription Outsiders’ efforts to define the identities of other groups. Outsiders’ efforts to define the identities of other groups.

28. Ethnic Groups Social groups that are distinguished from one another on the basis of ethnicity. Social groups that are distinguished from one another on the basis of ethnicity.

29. Colonialism Because ethnic groups are incorporated into the colony on unequal terms, many individuals in the colonies attempted to achieve upward mobility by manipulating ethnicity. Because ethnic groups are incorporated into the colony on unequal terms, many individuals in the colonies attempted to achieve upward mobility by manipulating ethnicity.

30. Nation-States A recent invention. A recent invention. After the French Revolution, which discredited the right of kings, rulers needed to find a new basis upon which to legitimize their state authority. After the French Revolution, which discredited the right of kings, rulers needed to find a new basis upon which to legitimize their state authority. The solution was to root political authority in nations. The solution was to root political authority in nations.

31. Nations Groups of people believed to share the same history, culture, language, and even the same physical substance. Groups of people believed to share the same history, culture, language, and even the same physical substance.

32. Nations were associated with territories, as were states, and a nation-state came to be viewed as an ideal political unit in which national identity and political territory coincided. Nations were associated with territories, as were states, and a nation-state came to be viewed as an ideal political unit in which national identity and political territory coincided.

33. The building of the first nation-states is closely associated with the rise of capitalism and its related cultural institutions. The building of the first nation-states is closely associated with the rise of capitalism and its related cultural institutions.

34. The ideology of the nation-state implies that every nation is entitled to its own state. It also suggests that a state containing heterogeneous populations might be made into a nation if all peoples adopt a common nationality. The ideology of the nation-state implies that every nation is entitled to its own state. It also suggests that a state containing heterogeneous populations might be made into a nation if all peoples adopt a common nationality.

35. Nationality A sense of identification with and loyalty to the nation-state. A sense of identification with and loyalty to the nation-state.

36. Nationalism (or nation-building) (or nation-building) Attempt made by government officials and state institutions to instill into citizens of a state a sense of nationality. Attempt made by government officials and state institutions to instill into citizens of a state a sense of nationality.

37. What is Canadian nationalism based upon? What institutions participate in its creation and reproduction?