Montréal

Part of the World Cities series, Montreal provides a guide to the birth, growth and contemporary life of this unique North American metropolis. The authors address some of the fundamental paradoxes at the core of the city’s dilemma: How does the city reconcile its identity as a French window on North America and a bilingual, increasingly multicultural metropolis? How can its economy, currently undergoing a successful transformation into a high-tech hotbed, still suffer from high unemployment? How can a city that is seemingly allergic to urban planning, that has such a long and cold winter and that remains divided between two cultural and linguistic majorities be so frequently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities?<br> The portrait that the authors strive to paint of this intriguing city, caught in the maelstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the “National Question”, addressing Quebec’s place in relation to the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montreal, explore the twists and turns of Montreal’s ever-changing identity.