SCS

• Revolution (broad definition)


  Fundamental changes (fast but non-violent) of social relations and (social) class relations
• Revolutions


  • Have economic implications first and foremost
  • Still, revolutions have also political and cultural/social implications
• Quiet revolution in Quebec

  Fundamental changes (fast but non-violent) of social relations and (social) class relations in Quebec
• Catholic clergy in Quebec's history

  • The Catholic Church controlled education, health care and social services in Quebec during 19th century and the first half of 20th century
• Revolution and secularization in Quebec

  1. Started within the Catholic Church through the reforms and debates within the Church

  2. Driven by growing middle class (of managers, technicians, workers, etc.) trained and organized by the Church
• Jean Lesage and the Quiet Revolution in Quebec

  • Jean Lesage's Liberal government triggered the Quiet Revolution in 1960
  • One of the goals was the improvement of social and economic status of Francophones in Quebec
• The generation of the baby-boomers

  • Highly contributed to Quiet Revolution
• The Catholic Church in Quebec


  • Was seen as a defender of Francophonie, Quebecer(Québécois) identity and Quebecers' (Québécois') interests until 20th century
  • After the Quiet Revolution, the nationalism rose considerably, fueled by the rise of new domestic bourgeoisie and new middle class in Quebec
• Demographic changes in Quebec

  • The rise of divorce rate
  • The rise of common law couples
  • Decrease in fertility rate
• Analyzing Quebec Quiet Revolution using Weberian tradition

  1. Rationalization, secularization and bureaucratisation of institutions in Quebec (government, education and religion)

  2. The domination of instrumental rationality on traditional and value rationality
• Rationalization, secularization and bureaucratisation of institutions in Quebec


  • Through the law and science, the Quebec society got more and more secularised and rationalised
• The domination of instrumental rationality on traditional and value rationality

  • Traditional and value rationalities got marginalised because of the prominence of instrumental rationality
• Analyzing Quebec Quiet Revolution using Marxian tradition

  1. The role of clergy in Quiet Revolution

  2. The formation of new ruling classes

  3. The rise of Francophone businesses

  4. The rise of workers' movements and women's rights movement

  5. The rise of the ideology of nationalism
• The role of clergy in Quiet Revolution


  • The role of the clergy in education system, and the conflicts within the Catholic clergy with regards to modernization of Quebec, fundamentally contributed to the Quiet Revolution
• The formation of new ruling classes

  • In 1930s, 40s, and 50s, a new social class of technicians, intellectuals, engineers, and specialists is formed in Quebec Universities
  • The new middle class of "salaried professionals" ascended to power in Canada (including Quebec) in 1960s and 1970s
• Nationalization and financial institutions in Quebec


  • Nationalization of companies (such as electrical companies) create a new type of state functionaries
  • The foundation of financial institutions (such as Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the Société générale de financement) also contributed to the development such functionaries
• The rise of Francophone businesses

  • Francophone businesses were supported by the government, relying on the new Francophone bureaucrats, technicians and managers
• The rise of workers' movements and women's rights movement


  • Women increasingly participated in class struggles, asking for women's rights such as abortion and equal pay
• The rise of the ideology of nationalism


  • Nationalism rose in 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s in Quebec, as a reflection of the development of new "Quebecer (Québécois)" social classes
• The implications of the Quiet Revolution remain to this day
• The differences between Marxian perspective and symbolic interactionism regarding social changes

  1. Marx analyses social changes relying on class struggles, but symbolic interactionism analyses social changes relying on groups and communities

  2. "Class domination" is the main element of social change according to Marxian perspective, but "re-evaluation of the norms and values, and adaptation with social order" are the main elements of social change according to symbolic interactionism

  3. Marxian perspective elaborates the economic dimensions of social changes (as well as cultural ones), but symbolic interactionism focuses on cultural elements of social change

  4. For symbolic interactionism, individuals are more or less conscious of their social situations, but for Marxian perspective, individuals are (mostly) unconscious of their historical conditions, and also, consciousness belongs to social classes, not to individuals or groups