Constructivism and Ethnic Studies in Québec
For the past 50 years, Fredrik Barth’s research on ethnicity has earned him an enduring reputation worldwide. However, a relatively limited selection of his work has been recognized, with his concept of boundaries receiving most of the attention (1969). This narrow perspective not only falls short in representing the full breadth of Barth’s overall contributions, but it also underplays the relevance of constructivist thought to the study of ethnicity. My objective in this paper is to show that the boundaries metaphor is a powerful and indispensable tool for modeling open systems. In order to accomplish this, I will touch on two main points : first, I will provide some arguments to support my hypothesis that Barth’s commitment to constructivism is fully in line with the tenets of the systemic approach ; and, second, I will attempt to convince the reader of the importance that ethnic studies begin looking for more suitable epistemological foundations for studying human difference. In a way, this paper could be considered a plea for a better epistemology in ethnic studies, especially in the rich context of ethnic studies in Montréal and in Québec.