ABSTRACT
A corollary of the individualism of the Canadian businessman was the 'homestead psychology'. This chapter explains the impact of contrasting state traditions on Japanese and Canadian industry cultures. It describes notion of state traditions. The chapter examines the basic contours of business discourse in the two societies during late 19th and early 20th centuries and demonstrates the existence of contrasting traditions with respect to the role of the state that fit Kenneth Dyson's categories. It discusses industry culture in the two countries as reflected in contemporary business ideology and attempts to demonstrate the continuing impact of the respective traditions despite dramatic changes in the political economic context in the two countries. A careful reading of statements of contemporary businessmen in Japan and Canada reveals characteristically distinctive modes of thought with respect to the place of business in society and the economic role of the state. The logical location to look for indicators of state and statelessness is in public discourse.
