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The disintegration of civil society
Glenn Smith
The following article was published, in a somewhat longer form, in the November 1999 issue of Le Lien, the French-language periodical produced by the Canadian MB Conference largely for Mennonite Brethren in Quebec. We publish this article here for the light it sheds on Quebec society, and elsewhere.
You don’t need to be an expert to recognize that our society is undergoing great changes. Yet, last fall, when I read a study on the participation of Québécois in community life, I was astounded. The commentary accompanying the study noted that in the 1950s Quebec society was very solid as a result of the networks created by large families; the sharing of responsibilities by the school, the church and municipal organizations; and well-established local communications media. The commentary then stated, “Civil society today is disintegrating.”
Civil society is that sector of society that is neither government nor business. It includes family, community and charitable organizations. It is the “cement” of our common public life. It is also the realm of our church activities. For more than a decade, more and more Christians have been investing time and effort in the life of their communities in order to build “bridges” to their neighbours.
So, why did the commentary conclude that Quebec civil society is disintegrating? The study found that the average citizen of Saskatchewan contributes $308 a year to charity, the highest level in the country. The average citizen in Quebec contributes $127, the lowest level in the country. The study also examined the rate of participation in six areas of community life. Again Saskatchewan ranked highest, with 54% of its citizens involved in at least one area, and Quebec ranked lowest, with only 33% involved. The rate drops further to 24% among Québécois aged 15-24 (the equivalent rate in Saskatchewan is 50%). Civil society is disintegrating in Quebec because we are isolated by our individualism. Coupled with our low birth rate, our high divorce rate and the decline of church structures, this trend means that our social cohesion is precarious.
| Rate of Participation in Civic Life |
| |
Sports/
Recreation |
Civic/
Community/
Religious |
Culture/
Education/
School |
Service/
Hobby |
Fraternal |
Political |
Overall
Participation
Rate |
| QUEBEC |
| English |
17.1 |
16.9 |
6.7 |
13.0 |
9.3 |
9.7 |
48.6 |
| French |
11.5 |
4.4 |
5.7 |
5.5 |
12.3 |
4.1 |
31.7 |
| Total |
12.0 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
6.2 |
12.0 |
4.7 |
33.3 |
| ONTARIO |
| English |
19.7 |
15.0 |
9.6 |
10.3 |
6.8 |
3.1 |
43.3 |
| French |
20.8 |
16.3 |
6.3 |
7.0 |
11.6 |
1.6 |
46.9 |
| Total |
19.8 |
15.0 |
9.5 |
10.3 |
6.9 |
3.1 |
43.4 |
| SASKATCHEWAN |
| Total |
25.3 |
21.8 |
14.4 |
11.8 |
9.9 |
6.9 |
54.4 |
We have an opportunity as the people of God to reverse the trend and invest in Quebec culture. By participating actively in community life, we distinguish ourselves as a people who seek the well-being of our society. The task of the church is to proclaim the Good News, to plant and build churches and to practise the principles of the lordship of Jesus in all areas of community life.
Glenn Smith is director of Christian Direction, a parachurch organization based in Montreal. This article was translated by Jim Coggins and is reprinted with permission of Le Lien.
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Last modified May 4, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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