Ruth’s Sociology Resources Blog

You’re wondering why I put a map of Australia here? Think it should be a map of the UK (or whichever country you’re from)?
In that case you’re demonstrating some sense of national identity – a map of your country is a symbol that you are identifying with.National identities are often a controversial subject, different people hold different ideas about what it means to be British and the topic can raise much emotion. Sociologists look at the ways that national identities are defined and created and also the ways in which they are changing.

The issue of national identity is often confused with that of ethnicity – while there are links, the two are different – don’t make the mistake of assuming that to be British or English is to be white – most nations are made up of numerous ethnic groups.

For a printable sheet of key terms for National Identity which you can fill out yourself, click here

Nation States and National Identity

Nation States

• The world is divided into countries – most are nation states. Nationality is a legal concept but also carries ideas of a common identity and culture
• A single state may be made up of more than one nation eg. The UK is made up of 4 nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
• States usually attempt to create an overall identity – this promotes ideas of loyalty.

• Nation states can be said to be in flux – they are constantly changing
• Mann (1986) – points out that nation states are recent inventions – created in the 17th & 18th Centuries
• Eg Belgium, Germany
• Hirst & Thompson (1995, 1996) – argue that globalisation has led to the decline of the nation state – people are less divided along lines of nationality, migration between countries, transfer of cultures
• However, Giddens (1997) argues that globalisation has led to the enhancement of the nation state – people are more aware of differences and seek to maintain their identity.

National Identity
National identity is a sense of belonging to particular nation state

• Hall (1992) – shared stories of shared experiences – sorrows, triumphs, disasters, images – combine to create national identity
• examples of this include the national mourning at the death of Princess Diana, remembrance of the Blitz and other events of WWII, national celebration at England’s victory in the rugby world cup

Can you think of any further examples of shared experiences?

Can you think of any evidence that you could use to criticise the idea of shared experience?

• Use of symbols & rituals to mark out national identity – these include national flags, national anthems, currency, language, rituals such as the Trooping of the Colour, Remembrance Day
• Intricately linked to national cultures
• Schudsen (1994) – argues that we are socialised into a common national identity:
• Common language
• Education – places emphasis on British history and British triumphs
• National Rituals
• Symbols – flags, currency, songs
• The mass media
• Mass production of fashion & taste

What examples are there of the media socialising us into a shared identity? – you might want to think of songs, programmes, adverts or other ways

How does education socialise us into a national identity?

• BUT often there is disagreement as to the components of national identity:
• Problems with each of the above – we can find exceptions and differences
• Concepts of national identity are often based on stereotypes and differences between nations
• Eg. Bowie (1993) – found that Wales appears to be homogenous from the exterior, giving an image of unity and distinct national identity, but is heterogeneous from interior with different groups and cultures
• This leads to the idea that nations are cultural hybrids, often combining many cultures and groups

• Traditional vs modern images – there have been significant changes in national identities over time – in the UK this can be seen in changing preferences and culture – for example the emergence of Chicken Tikka Masalla as the nation’s favourite dish, over fish and chips.

Nationalism

Nationalism: the belief that the nation-state is the key unit of political government, and is based on culture and/or language. Nationalism is the idea that each cultural group has its own geographical home.

Nationalism is often linked to diasporas: where an ethnic group has become displaced from a homeland and often scattered around the world, but maintain shared identity and “homeland”. The Jews are a good example of a diaspora and people will often talk about the “Jewish diaspora”.

• There are often negative connotations to nationalism – it can be divisive – e.g. Israel/Palestine; Northern Ireland; the Kurds in Iraq and Turkey
• Nationalism often inspires powerful emotion:
• can be expressed in xenophobia (fear of and prejudice against foreigners) & violence
• Good examples of this can be seen in football hooliganism perpetrated by English fans abroad
• Also in the creation of nationalist political parties such as:
• the BNP (British National Party) (extreme) and UKIP (UK Independence Party), both of which want to severely limit immigration into the UK. (The BNP were implicated in the racially motivated riots which took place in Bradford, Burnley & Oldham in 2001)
• Plaid Cymru (Welsh) and the Scottish National Party which have campaigned for independence for Wales and Scotland from Britain
• But nationalism is also “everyday”
• Part of everyday life & outlook – supporting England in the World Cup or the Olympics, playing the national anthem at important events, being encouraged to “buy British”
• Billig (1995) – comes up with the concept of “banal nationalism”
• Taken for granted assumptions about culture, values, norms and behaviour
• Constant reminders – sport, weather, flags, money (witness the controversy over joining the Euro)

Can you come up with any other examples of banal nationalism?

• Anderson (1983) – argues that there is an “imagined political community” (Marxist viewpoint) – that we are socialised into a false belief in a common shared past.

This view is supported by the fact that many things that we see as national symbols were in fact manufactured. For example Scottish clan tartans and the “Trooping of the Colour” were both invented by the Victorians to promote national pride.

Why might the creation of an “imagined political community” be important to the ruling class? How might it influence behaviour for example?

Nationalism & Britain

It is argued that over the past 20 years there has been an increase in nationalism within Britain, this can be seen in a variety of ways:

• Increase in nationalist parties w/in Britain
• Devolution of powers – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have gained some degree of autonomy as nations in their own right.
• Creation of Scot tish parliament and Welsh Assembly with rights to create their own policies, eg. on education
• Decrease in Britishness? Increase in notion of “English”? – we talk less about being British and more about being English, this can be seen in the increased support for “English” rather than “British” support teams and in the increased use of the English St George’s flag rather than the British Union Jack
• European Union – loss of sense of national identity? – some argue that British membership of the European Union has led to a loss of national identity and autonomy, with rulings from Brussels on human rights, food regulations and employment law. However, it could be argued that the strong opposition from some groups to membership of Europe has strengthened British identity as it has raised consciousness of national symbols and culture such as currency, food and law.

Nationalist attitudes

Dowds & Young (1996) – found that the majority of English, Scots, Welsh expressed nationalist sentiments – often this was in the form of pride in heritage & institutions, however some were unmotivated by national pride.

- they identified 2 types of nationalism:

• “Inclusive nationalism” – this shows a willingness to include marginal groups and to view the nation as a place where different cultures and groups had a role to play
• “Exclusive nationalism” – this viewpoint focussed on the maintenance of tight boundaries, excluding marginal groups such as ethnic minorities. This type of nationalism also favours separation from Europe, wanting to maintain British sovereignty.