British nationalism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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".[1]
British nationalism has broad support across the political spectrum in the United Kingdom; from the Euroscepticism of the United Kingdom Independence Party and far-right British National Party, to the principally centre-right Conservative Party, to the centre-left Labour Party, and also the centrist to centre-left Liberal Democrats. Politicians, such as Gordon Brown, have sought to promote British nationalism as a progressive cause.[3]
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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 to retain the ties between those areas and the UK, in opposition to separatist nationalist movements. Such movements include the Ulster Unionist Party and the Scottish Unionist Party. The British National Party wishes to keep the Union between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales through withdrawing from the EU, dismantling multiculturalism and supporting devolution (or even federalism) for each region, such as England, but the SUP and UKIP wish to abolish all three of the local parliaments and transfer all powers back to the Westminster Parliament.
[edit] See also
- 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.
[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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