Cillia et al (1999) contribution of those who
make up nation important for defining it. When
people consider national identity they think of
cultural similarites and national boundaries.
National culture (everyday ritual, national
memories) can be thought of symbolic
repository of what it is to be a member of that
nation, a repository on which they can draw
when they think of themselves in terms of the
nation to which they belong i.e. what is is to be
scottish
Is dynamic (changing) construction
of national identity and occurs
through discourse
Time, place, language, economy and culture
forever changing and diverse. All these things
affect how we define national identity.
DR not interested in exact definition, but in
how participants themselves draw upon talk
of time/place/culture or even just "nation"
itself in order to construct/ maintain or
challenge national identities as they appear
in talk. And of course to understand social
action behind.
Reicher and Hopkins (2001) key
aspect is to understand how it is that
we construct people in terms of
whether they belong to our own nation.
Discourse resources are flexible,
people can draw upon it within
particular contexts of discourse to
make identity claims and pursue
goals. British politicians will draw upon
British identity for inclusivity of all
nations but then produce
characterizations that are related only
to English concerns.
Billig (1995) to think of
oneself in terms of 'national
identity' involves thinking of
others in terms of their
different identities.
Differentiating yourself in
order to define yourself.
Condor et al (2006) talk about time can be deployed in talk
about national idenity, interviewed 20 english people about
nationality, participants displays talk of "history as a
national possession", Britishness is constructed as hybrid
assembly of people (we), place (island) and non-specific
activities (things). Importance of 'culture' and 'identity' is
not calculated in moral or aesthetic value, but it is rather
measured against 'historical duration' ("go back hundreds of
years"). Shared history and common characterisitcs
important for national catetgorization
Attributes "our" potential loss of
history to actions of national others
"Brussel burecrat
Nations not just physical country, social identity or
self-catergorization starts with assumption that
societal objects such as nations or states viewed by
people as human catergories
Nations may be understood as people, places or
institutions. Gibson & Condor (2009) soldiers and
civilians to talk about nation in relation to military service.
Used terms 'british' and 'nation' as references to political
institution rather than a category of people
Anderson (1983)
claimed that nation
can be considered to
be an 'imagined
community'
Wallwork & Dixon (2004) NI constructed in relation to
an imagined place with a purpose. British identity
associated with version of England as geographical
space- countryside -hunting is way of life. 'Country' is
"green fields" valuable, british people fought for it.
Rhetorical imagined location invests fox hunting with
national significance. Social action of this is that
challenges to fox hunting is in fact challenge to British
identity. Construction of nation is a rootedness in
place rather than sterotypes.
Mckinlay & Mcvittie (2007) national idenity negotiation, immigration. Intertwining time and
place in construction of NI. People left england for scottish island, sensitive to being viewed
as 'incomer' rather than 'local'. Molly avoids claim of incomer by detailing her qualifications
"been here for 14 years", geographical links to island and undermines claims of others who
construct her otherwise "funny old person"
Complex constructions like this run side by side with much simpler way of talking about 'nation'. Billig
(1995) Culturally understood notions allow us to view NI as a set of discursive talk and thinking which enable
us to label ourselves as a nation. Banal nationalism (nationality as obvious no need to work up in talk), flags,
coins, society,us,we. Simplify nationality because someones we need to, newpapers, politicians. Do not rely
on it.