National Identity

National Identity

1. Nationality & National identity

   • National identity is a sense of purpose that results in a sense of belonging to a larger community in the form of a nation
     • Symbols, monarchy, religion, language, geography, British Empire, War and the political and legal system make up national identity
   • Nationality is the legal formal category which derives from people belonging to a nation state.
     • Accompanied by legal rights like carrying a passport, legally marry and vote at a particular age.
   • Postmodernists claim that there is new hybrid type of British identity slowly emerging.
     • More aware and exposed to other cultures, multicultural experiences everywhere and cheap air fare

2. Nationalism

   • Kumar (2003) states that unlike the Scott's, Welsh and Irish, the British find it difficult to say who they are. and has developed a sense of missionary nationalism
   • Nationalism has an influence over powerful emotions of xenophobia (the fear and prejudice of foreigners)
   • In the modern day, nationalism has gained a nasty reputation and pitch nations against each toher

3. Changing Identities

   • Sardar (2002) states we are in the middle of a global identity crisis
     • East VS West or communism VS capitalists have broken down the way we identify ourselves
     • To develop a more confident identity, we must embrace diversity
   • With Britain losing its Empire they weren't sure to be more American or European

4. Everyday Nationalsm

   • Nationalism is embedded into our everyday life
   • Billig (1995) uses 'banal nationalism' where we take our culture, value, norms etc for granted because we are constantly reminded of it in subtle ways.
     • Weather notices, sports coverage, flags, money
   • Anderson (1983) argues there is an imagined community'
     • Socialised into a false belief of a common shared past

5. Nationalist attitudes

   • Dowd & Young (1996) found majority express patriotically
   • Inclusive nationalism- acceptance of ethnic minorities
   • Exclusive nationalism- exclusion of ethnic minorities

6. Responses to globalisation

   • Stuart Hall (1991) different reactions to globalisation
   • Cultural homogenisation- Multicultural cuisine in UK
   • Cultural hybridity- Brasians
   • Cultural resistance- exclusion of media