ISBN Quebec in a Global Light: Reaching for the Common Ground book English 208 pages

To the outside world, Quebec is Canada’s most distinctive province. To many Canadians, it has sometimes seemed the most troublesome. But, over the last quarter century, quietly but steadily, it has wrestled successfully with two of the West’s most daunting challenges: protecting national values in the face of mass immigration and striking a proper balance between economic efficiency and a sound social safety net. Quebec has also taken a lead in fighting climate change. Yet, many people – including many Quebeckers – are unaware of this progress and much remains to be done. These achievements, and the tenacity that made them possible, are rooted in centuries of adversity and struggle.In this masterful survey of the major social and economic issues facing Quebec, Robert Calderisi offers an intimate look into the sensitivities and strengths of a society that has grown accustomed to being misunderstood. In doing so, he argues that the values uniting Quebeckers – their common sense, courtesy, concern for the downtrodden, aversion to conflict, and mild form of nationalism, linked to a firm refusal to be homogenized by globalization – make them the most "Canadian" of all Canadians.

Robert Calderisi was a Quebec Rhodes Scholar and is a former director of The World Bank. He is the author of The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn’t Working (2006) and Earthly Mission: The Catholic Church and World Development (2013). He splits the year between Montreal, New York, and Paris.

"With a blend of intimacy and detachment, affection and rigour, Robert Calderisi presents a remarkably clear-eyed picture of contemporary Quebec, with shrewd insights into its achievements and challenges."Graham Fraser, Visiting Professor, McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, and Canada’s former Commissioner of Official Languages (2006–16)"Calm, clear, and positive, Calderisi brings his subjects to life with a remarkable degree of honesty and attention to detail, summarizing different points of view with the knowledge of an insider and the detachment of an outsider. Quebec in a Global Light is both strategic in its approach and carefully precise in its descriptions. And, it is a joy to read: well-written, balanced, informative, independent, and at the same time respectful of the complexity of the issues.."Jacques Gérin, former Deputy Minister of Environment Canada and Distinguished Fellow, International Institute for Sustainable Development"Remarkably balanced and corrects many common misperceptions about Quebec society. English Canada needs this book!"Pierre Fortin, former President of the Canadian Economics Association