Britain Between Tradition and Modernity

Thematic vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Britain Between Tradition and Modernity, including the Commonwealth, multiculturalism, monarchy, constitution, Brexit, and the British Empire.

allegiance (to sb.)

loyalty to a leader

ceremonial position

position that gives no real power

declaration

official statement

geopolitics

ideas and activities relating to the way that a country’s position, population, etc. affect its political development and its relationship with other countries

head of state

person in charge of a state

to share a common heritage

to have the same traditional beliefs, values, customs, etc.

intergovernmental

between different governments

legacy

sth. that exists as a result of sth. that happened at an earlier time

representative position

position in which sb. represents a state, a community, an interest, etc.

rogue state

nation that is considered very dangerous to other nations

self-determination

right of the people to govern themselves

sovereign; sovereignty

independent; complete freedom and power to govern

acculturation

process of become more like other people from a different culture

alien

foreigner; foreign

assimilation

process of becoming like the people of a country, group, society, etc.

asylum seeker

sb. who leaves their own country because they are in danger and who asks the government of another country to allow them to live there

Black Lives Matter (BLM)

political movement that protests about violence against black people and emphasizes that black people’s lives are of equal importance to other lives

citizen; citizenship

member of a state, subject; the legal right of belonging to a particular country

culture clash

conflict arising from the interaction of people with different cultural values

(racial) discrimination

practice of treating people in an unfair way because of their ethnicity

diversity

many different types of people or things

emigrant

sb. who leaves their own country to live in another

to emigrate; emigration

to leave one’s own country in order to live in another

ethnic

relating or belonging to a group of people who can be seen as distinct (= different) because they have a shared culture, tradition, language, history, etc.

ethnicity

belonging to a group of people with a shared culture, language, history, set of traditions, etc.

ethnic diversity

variety of different ethnic groups

hospitable; hospitality

friendly and welcoming to visitors

identity crisis; crisis of identity

feeling of uncertainty about who you really are and what your purpose is

immigrant

sb. who enters another country to live there permanently

to immigrate; immigration

to come into a country in order to live there permanently

immigration control; border control

place at an airport, seaport, etc. where officials check the documents of everyone entering the country

to integrate (sb. into/with); integration

to become part of a group or society and be accepted by them, or to help sb. do this

integration (social process)

act or process of mixing people, previously separated, e.g. because of colour, race or religion

interracial marriage

marriage between people of different races

labour shortage

situation in which there are not enough workers

middle class

social class that includes people who are educated and work in professional jobs, e.g. teachers or managers

minority

small group of people or things within a much larger group (= majority)

race relations

relationship that exists between people from different countries, religions, etc. who are now living in the same place

refugee

sb. who has been forced to leave a country, esp. during a war, or for political or religious reasons

temporary stay

stay continuing for a limited period of time

Western values

beliefs, traditions, customs, etc. of the Western community

to ascend the throne

to become king or queen

British

belonging to or relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or its people

Briton

sb. from Britain

Great Britain

England, Scotland and Wales

heir apparent to the throne

person with the legal right to become king or queen after the death of their predecessor

monarch

king or queen

monarchy

system of a country having a king or queen

patriotic

showing great love of and pride in your country

patriotism

love of your country and willingness to defend it and what it stands for

proclamation

official announcement

Privy Council

in the UK, group of people of high rank in politics who advise the king or queen on political affairs

sovereign grant

amount of money given to the monarch by the state to enable him or her to discharge his or her duties

succession to the throne

Right to become the king or queen of a country

traditionalist

sb. who believes in and follows traditional ideals

United Kingdom

country that consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

act

law that has been officially accepted

bill

written proposal for a new law that is brought to a parliament to be discussed

charter / carta

statement of the principles, duties and purposes of an organization

constitutional document

officially/legally accepted document

constitutional monarchy; parliamentary monarchy

country ruled by a king or queen whose power is limited by a constitution

to deny sth. to sb. / to deny sb. sth.

to refuse to allow sb. to have or do sth.

despot

tyrant

to dissolve parliament

to officially end parliament

domestic policy

laws and policies that apply within a country’s borders

dominion

country belonging to the British Empire or Commonwealth

to grant sb. sth. / to grant sth. to sb.

to give sb. sth. or allow them to have sth. that they have asked for

to negotiate; negotiation

to discuss sth. in order to reach an agreement, esp. in business or politics

petition

official letter to a law court asking for a legal case to be considered

referendum (on sth.)

when people vote to make a decision about a particular subject, rather than voting for a person

universal suffrage

right of all eligible people in a country to vote

Brexit

short for “British exit”; separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union

Continent / continental Europe

main part of Europe, esp. western Europe, not including Britain or Ireland

Euroscepticism

attitude of opposing closer connections between Britain and the EU

isolationism / isolationist

political principle or practice of showing interest only in your own country and not being involved in international activities

(Vote) Leave

campaign that supported the Leave Vote in the $2016$ referendum

(Vote) Remain

campaign in favour of the United Kingdom's continued membership in the European Union

regionalism

feeling of loyalty to a particular part of a country and a desire for it to be more politically independent

separatism

support by a group of people or a country for separation from a larger political union

voter turnout

number of people who vote at an election

separatist

supporter of separatism

diplomacy

job or quality of managing the relationships between countries

emperor / empress

man / woman who rules an empire

to expand; expansion

to become larger in size or number; growth

fall

loss of power, failure

foreign policy

political field involving or dealing with other countries

to found sth.; foundation

to start sth., to establish sth.

to gain independence

to become independent

to grant sb. independence

to allow sb. to act on their own

(policy of) imperialism

political system in which one country rules a number of other countries

indigenous

native people who have always lived in a place

to be loyal to sb.

to support sb.

maharaja

Indian prince or king

overseas

to or in a foreign country that is across the sea

to possess sth.

to own sth.

Raj

British rule in India

to reign

to rule a nation as their king, queen or emperor

rule

official power to control a country

self-government

country or organization that is controlled by its own members

superiority over sth.

quality of being better, more skilful, powerful, etc. than other people or things