EQ4: Migration- National Identity

how can education be a way to reinforce national identity?

• a top-down approach

• can teach national history, shared culture, national events, national heroes, traditions and language

• encourages pride in national achievements and identity and values

EG:UK= since 2014, english schools= legally required to promote the British Values in order to shape british identity

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they include: mutual respect, rule of law, tolerance, democracy and individual liberty

• some USA schools encourage students to sing the national anthem every day

• they build a sense of community and togetherness

how does sport reinforce nationalism?

• major international sporting events like the Olympics and FIFA world cup= generate emotional unity as people collectively support national teams

• flags, anthems, colours, players and national symbols are promoted and used

• strengthen the sense of shared belonging and togetherness

• nurtures national pride and loyalty→ even if only brief

• strongest effect for the host nation

• EG: 2012 Olympics in London= huge display of national pride esp in opening and closing ceremonies

how do political parties play an important role in promoting nationalism?

• many stress the importance of unity, identity, sovereignty, national loyalty ext to gain national support esp from people who are more akin to traditional ways

• political rhetoric tends to focus on defneding national values, protecting culture, ext which can unify people

• can become divisive if exclude minorities or encourage hostility

• EG: In uk= UKIP membership grew rapidly since 1990s,, rhetoric included ‘reclaiming UK borders’,, encourage leaving EU in 2016 (mostly using the migration rhetoric),, encourage citizenship tests for migrants

• Reform UK is another political party which has grown significantly in popularity since end of 2024 amd uses migration as its key poltical debate and it has supported protests for its cause (like the sept 2025 ‘Unite the kingdom rallies with over 100,000 people)

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how can ideas about national character shape national identity?

• eg- british identity is often associated with fairness, politeness, tradition

• eg- japanese identity= discipline, collectivism

• sometimes stereotypical

• but influ how people understand their nation and place

• can often be replicated in tv shows and media ext

• physical landscapes also contribute

• eg- english countryside (nostalgic view of englishness,, peaceful, tradition, rural)

• used and depicted during london 2012 olympics opening ceremony

is national identity straightforward?

no, as most modern states are multi-national and multi-ethnic

very diverse so range of cultures, ethnic groups, languages ext,, not just one shared one

loyalty is therefore complex as people may feel loyal to regional or ethnic identities as well as wider nation

overlapping identity^^

fact on how people perceived national identity in UK in 2011?

of all the Indian population that completed the 2011 census, around 48% identified with an overseas national identity, more than those who identified as British only identity

^^ suggests they retain loyalty to where they had been born

(survey on own perceived national identity)

what phenomenon has further complicated ideas of national identity?

globalisation

• increased migr, media, TNCs,IGOs, digital communicatiions= poeple are exposed to lost of different cultures

• can create hybrid identities eg: British-Asian OR French-Moroccan

• many people see themsleves as both national citizens and global citizens

• some say this weakens trad national identity

• can provoke nationalist reactions esp with people who feel their identity= under threat

• this has increased nationalist political parties and immigration and sovereignty debates

EG: in 2022= ~16% of UK population were born abroad