On this episode of *Finding Solutions*, Dan sits down with Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard, one of a rising generation of Quebec public intellectuals. They begin with life in Quebec City and how his experiences placed culture and belonging at the heart of political life. The episode traces his path from answering constituent mail as an 18-year-old to speechwriting for the Premier of Quebec, authoring three books on Quebec identity, history, and politics, before taking on some of our country’s most pressing issues as a policy researcher at Cardus.
The core of the conversation focuses on *Anti-Civilization*: what civilization requires (shared norms that channel individual impulses toward a common life), how the deconstruction of family, nation, and institutions hollows that foundation out, and why cultural debates are fundamental to political life rather than a sideshow to pocketbook issues. Étienne draws a clear distinction between reform that strengthens physical, economic, and cultural security and revolutionary projects that prioritize disruption over the common good.
They also examine fertility rates (the gap between what Canadian families say they want versus reality), daycare policy that funds institutions over parents’ choices, managerial elites, populism as a citizen demand, Quebec’s upcoming election realignment, and how Quebec and Western Canada can better understand each other through shared principles of rootedness and local autonomy.
**Follow / find his work**
\* X: @eabeauregard
\* Without Diminishment: Without Diminishment | Substack
\* Cardus research: Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard | Cardus
\* *Anti-Civilization* (English): bookstores across Canada, Amazon, and major online retailers from **September 1, 2026**
To find out more about Étienne’s latest book: Anti-Civilization (Preorder) – Sutherland House Publishing
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit danalbas.substack.com
Étienne-Alexandre BeauregardGuest
Dan AlbasHost