Topic 7: National Identity

National Identity

How we see ourselves and how others see us in relation to our nationality

e.g where we were born / have citizenship

May relate to where we are born, but a sense of shared national identity is arguably socially constructed

Often constructed through symbols, anthems and rituals

Nation States

Independent, self-governing geographical area defined as a nation
United by common identity and culture

E.g Britain has nations Wales, Scotland and England

Nationalism

Political idea that claims the right of every nation to have its own historical homeland and independent state to run its own affairs

Bridget Byrne on citizenship ceremonies

Attended citizenship ceremonies (where new immigrants officially given citizenship)

Used interviews and observation to find that speeches often focussed on trad. stories of democracy, independence and freedom

Used symbols like coins, flags, anthems and uniforms
Used collective memories (world wars, 1966 world cup)

Rather idealised - no mention of more sour history ie Slave Trade

Byrne on cultural hybridity

Recent immigrants had experienced racism, but this was ignored and instead citizenship ceremonies focussed on Britain as a ‘welcoming nation’

Shows national identity as a social construct ‘imagined community’

Durkheim on symbols

‘A flag is only a bit of cloth; nevertheless, a soldier will die to save it’

Symbols can have strong bonds/ relationships to society (‘Sacred symbols’)

Kate Fox (2005) ‘Watching the English’

Wrote that English have created a distinctive way of communicating

eg talking about the weather - language code (Asking about the weather = ‘be my friend’, reply about horrible weather = ‘yes i will be your friend)

English as shy and prudish people who enjoy long-winded set of conversation codes

We have been socialised into these, but people from other nations find them confusing

eg in Finland: ‘Silence is golden, talking is silver’ (only talk if it is important)

Hidden rules for english behaviour

Kumar on Missionary Nationalism

English have developed a sense of missionary nationalism (a repression of ordinary expressions of nationalism) due to history and former empire

Easier to define national symbols of scots (kilts, haggis) and welsh (dragons, daffodills)

Overly patriotic Englishman - negative connotations/ xenophobia

Millar and Slatar - internet research in Trinidad

Investigated if internet use damaged local identities but found the opposite:

Almost every online interaction that Trinidadians used was slang to converse / promoting their nation / pinning flag to social media accounts

Cultural Resistance to losing identity and cultural heritage

RItser on globalisation

Globalisation is problematic due to the Americanisation it brings - leads to homogenisation

Stuart Hall on response to Globalisation

Countries may display 3 Responses

1. Accept global culture, move towards homogenisation

2. Take on some parts of global culture leading to cultural hybridity

3. Reject global culture and apply cultural resistance

Sadar (2002) 'Global identity crisis’

Argues that the world is going through a ‘global identity crisis’

Many traditional ideas of East v west, communism v capitalism have broken down since the end of the Cold War (1990)

Britain had largest empire in the world from late 16th to early 18th century - covered ¼ of countries and 1/5 total population 

Nowadays - Britain as smaller nation in a world of growing superpowers (Russia, Usa, India, North Korea) 

Lots of english traditions becoming outdated to people living here

We should focus on getting a confident identity based on diversity and what we have in common

Robertson on Glocalisation

Mixture of globalisation and glocalisation to challenge dominance of Americanisation

countries will often adopt a global product but adopt and tailor the product to fit local conditions

eg - Mcdonalds do not serve beef in india so serve a McAloo Tikki vegetarian burger

Adoption of glocalisation rejects concerns of homogenisation, americanism and cultural imprealism

Ford and Goodwin (2010) on rise of the British National Party

Since 2001, No. of BNP supporters has grown by over 500,000

Mainly middle-aged, employed malse who tended to occupy lower class positions and lived in economically deprived industrial north of England

Support perhaps due to fact that these men occupy precarious positions in society - more likely to feel threatened by immigration and rising ethnic and cultural diversity