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This essay briefly develops an epistemological, anthropological, normative, and legal/constitutional theory of federalism through which we could envisage anew the complexity of the relationships between Aboriginal peoples and Euro-Canadians or that of Quebeckers and Anglo-Canadians. According to this understanding, federalism is not only characterized by a recognition of the inescapable pluralism of Canadian society, but also of the close interaction between the constituent parts of that plural society — an interaction constantly torn between centrifugal and centripetal forces. Because of the bi- or multifocal perspective commanded by this understanding of federalism, none of these interlaced components may be ignored. Concepts such as sovereignty, nationalism, and rights revolve around a single centre. Federalism requires the recognition that the Self is not of one essence and that a community cannot be envisaged in ignorance of other legitimate collectivities surrounding it. In the perspective defended here, federalism is not a monoconceptual but rather a hyphenated notion forcing one to reconcile dyads such as self–other, us–them, autonomy–solidarity, power–justice, etc. Federalism also acknowledges an uncertainty in our world and in ourselves that other concepts tend to obscure. As such, federalism, at an epistemological level, requires that we be suspicious of monocular outlooks.
