British nationalism
British nationalism is a form of nationalism that promotes the United Kingdom as a focus for national identity, specifically Britishness. In a broad sense it includes political and social movements, sentiment inspired by a love for British culture and history, and a sense of pride in being British. British nationalism is closely associated with British unionism[1] and is characterised as a "powerful but ambivalent force in British politics",[2] as an "inclusionary and civic form of nationalism, emphasising the union between England and Scotland", as well as "embracing strong native national identities" and being ethnically British.[1]
British nationalism has broad support across the political spectrum in the United Kingdom; from the Euroscepticism of the right-wing United Kingdom Independence Party and far-right British National Party, to the principally centre-right Conservative Party, to the centrist to centre-left Liberal Democrats and the centre-left Labour Party. Politicians, such as British Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party and his direct predecessor Gordon Brown of the Labour Party, have sought to promote British nationalism as a progressive cause.[3][4]
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[edit] Nationalism and unionism
Historically, and at the present day, unionist movements exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. These movements seek specifically to retain the ties between those areas and the rest of the UK, in opposition to civic nationalist movements. Such unionist movements include the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party and the Scottish Unionist Party. In Scotland and Wales the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties support the Union, although some supporters of those parties would consider their nationality to be Scottish or Welsh rather than British, however most but not all, consider to be both Scottish/Welsh and British.
[edit] See also
- British unionism
- English nationalism
- Irish nationalism
- Scottish nationalism
- Welsh nationalism
- Ulster nationalism
- Cornish nationalism
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Miller 2005, p. 133.
- ^ Smith, Smith & White 1988, p. 61.
- ^ "Gordon Brown calls for national day to celebrate 'Britishness' - Wikinews, the free news source". En.wikinews.org. http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Gordon_Brown_calls_for_national_day_to_celebrate_'Britishness'. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ Conservative Party leader David Cameron advocates liberal or civic British nationalism: "Being British is one of the most successful examples of inclusive civic nationalism in the world." http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2006/09/Cameron_I_will_never_take_Scotland_for_granted.aspx www.conservatives.com Official party site (26 September 2006)
[edit] Bibliography
- Miller, William Lockley (2005), "Anglo-Scottish Relations from 1900 to Devolution and Beyond", Proceedings of the British Academy (Oxford University Press) 128, ISBN 9780197263310
- Smith, Michael; Smith, Steve; White, Brian (1988), British foreign policy: tradition, change, and transformation, Routledge, ISBN 9780043270813
[edit] External links
- UK National Democrats- A Manifesto for Britain
- British Nationalism: an idea whose time has come- BNP Manifesto 1997
- Rebuilding British Democracy- BNP Manifesto 2005
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