Psychic Capital: Its Role in Maintaining Quebec and Other Francophone Identities

Abstract

This article will demonstrate the value of Boulding’s concept of psychic capital in explaining the survival of Quebec and other North American francophone communities where French is the first language. Psychic capital holds that while in an economic unit there will be a store of financial capital which is necessary for the continued existence of an economic unit, also in a human community there is a need for a reserve of psychic capital that is vital for the survival of that community. Psychic capital does this by providing a body of positive feelings shared between individuals and larger groupings, which could be a community or a whole nation.  Boulding proposed that a coherent body of thoughts, memories and emotions may be shared as psychic capital. In the case of Quebec, this is embodied in the French language and a distinct culture which has provided the foundation of its survival through many adverse events and is the basis of the desire of many of its members for independence from Canada. If Quebec were to achieve independence, this would impact other francophone communities in North America by undermining Canada’s policy of official bilingualism at the federal level, with economic, social and political impacts. A store of psychic capital is thus necessary for the survival of Quebec and the other francophone communities of North America.