Citizenship and Belonging

Our approach

In an era of heightened political polarization and rapid information flows, the meaning and practice of citizenship and belonging are increasingly drawn into question. The social media are omnipresent and create segmented eco chambers, fueling often the discourses of divisive political and social actors, and undermining community and solidarity. Despite the fact that social media have a positive potential to mobilise people for pro-social causes and drive inclusion, in recent years we have witnessed more their divisive power.

Understanding how narratives about citizenship and belonging or diversity  are created, circulated, and contested is essential for building more informed, inclusive communities.

Studying how the practice of citizenship and civic or political participation are shaped by advanced digital technologies, in both inclusive and exclusionary ways is also key to building equitable and resilient communities.

Canada is a settler colonial state and a multicultural society. Bringing together equitable migration governance with Truth and Reconciliation aims is challenging because migration lies at the heart of settler colonialism. But it is also possible and imperative. Our work grapples with difficult truths in the effort to decolonise knowledge in Canada and globally, and build a more inclusive future for all.

Our research focus

Research under this theme examines the discourses and practices of citizenship and belonging and how they are captured in related policies and institutional frameworks, as well as how they evolve in an increasingly digitalised and globalised world.

Key areas of inquiry include:

• The role of social media and digital platforms in shaping migration debates, political mobilization, and public engagement
• Political narratives about migration and asylum, and how they shape public attitudes, policy debates, and ideas of citizenship and belonging
• The evolution of national identity, multiculturalism, and citizenship in diverse societies, including how different groups experience and interpret these frameworks
• Comparative perspectives on how countries govern cultural and religious diversity, and how these approaches are changing in a globalized and digital world
• De-centring migration narratives, including those of migrants at destination, origin, and transit, as well as families and communities affected by migration
• Contributing to Truth and Reconciliation practices and addressing the relationship of both migrants and Indigenous Peoples with the Land.