National Identities In Great Britain

National Identities In Great BritainWales, Scotland & Northern IrelandThe nitty-gritty of history of the 3 nationsWales: beyond Offas DykeScotland: wheres my kilt and whiskey?Northern Ireland: Were Irish, but were Protestants, but were British, but were IrishGENERAL OUTLINE

Historical OverviewHistorically: all 3 nations > non-AS rootsAfter the Anglo-Saxon invasion most Celts > driven to the peripherySeparation from PD England:Offas Dyke > WalesHadrians Wall > ScotlandNature (the sea) > Ireland

History: WALES5th century: the birth of national identityLlywelyn ap Gruffydd: last Prince of Wales (1282) > Edward I secured Wales under Englands rule15th century rebellion: Owain Glyndr restores independence brieflyMid. 15th century Wales annexed once more and Anglicised under Henry VIII20th century: growth of national feeling; 1997 national assemblyAfter the Roman withdrawal from Britain in 5th century;Gruffyd The Great: the one who ruled over united WalesThe English imposed their laws, the official language was English, Welsh no longer allowed (Henry VIII Bible in Welsh)Plaid Cymruwas formed in 1925 and theWelsh Language Societyin 1962.Tony Blair agreed to Welsh assembly in 1997

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History: Scotland4 different nations > one (out of Picts and Scots): Kenneth I MacAlpinFought fiercely with the English, yet 10th c. > friendship saught to end wars1320 Declaration of Arbroath: statement of national identityWell into 16th c. > alliance with France against England1603 the Union of the Crowns: Scottish King James VI rules England1707 the Act of Union; 1997 Scottish Parliament

Declaration: total independence from the English; a declaration to the pope of the sovereign stateThe Scots supported France in the 100 years warJames VI rules England after Edward Is death5

History: Northern Ireland5 kingdoms; the North > UlsterIreland: catholic since 5th c. > religion very important12th c. Pope grants Henry II permission to bring Irish under Romes rule Elizabeth I > planted Scottish protestants in N. Ireland > Ulster = ProtestantIrish hatred for English due to harsh politics > 1922 Ireland granted independence, North stayed1960s > unification of Ireland a fail > conflict continues

> Anglo-Normans claimed Ireland for the English crown

6WALES: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WELSH?

WALES

Wales is an artefact which the Welsh people produce if they want to (Gwyn Alf Williams)Wales a part of the UK and of the European Union so people can regard themselves as Welsh as well as being legally British and European

WALES vs ENGLAND

LANGUAGE: until very late in the nineteenth century most people in Wales spoke WelshWales had a distinctive religious cultureCeltic games like bandoDistinctive musical and poetic heritageWALES: who are Welsh?

the most important element of the countrys identity is its language and that the true Welsh person is a Welsh-speakernon-Welsh-speakers who regard themselves as truly Welsh and reject the language as the sole or even main definerpeople who were born in the countryDue to the National Population Survey in 2009

The closer people live to England the less Welsh they feel:Along the border national identity is weaker, while the heartland of Welshness is in the South Wales Valleys

WALES:

WELSH

more democratic, more liberal, more tolerant than people from many other areas of Britain

TraditionsScottishness vs. BritishnessStrong Scottish Roots

SCOTLAND: WHERES MY KILT AND WHISKEY? ScottishTraditionallyFamous peopleKilt & Tartan

Shortbread

Whiskey

David HumeAlexander Graham BellRobert BurnsSir Arthur Conan DoyleDavid Livingstone

Scottishness vs. BritishnessFrom 1707 people developed a dual identity, a complex mix of Scottishness and Britishness which has endured to a greater or lesser extent to the present day

Scotland was an ancient nation which had long developed beliefs, stories, myths, songs and hero figures which ensured a strong sense of national identity

Scottishness vs. Britishness (2)New hero figures embodying Scottish values emerged, none more important than Robert Burns

Old heroes were reinvented for new times

The dual identity from then to this point, was never static, but constantly renewed and its markers reinvented for new times in the 20th century

Homecoming Scotland 2014A year-long programme of events and activities to showcase all that's great about Scotland

Popular: people from around the world come to uncover their Scottish ancestral roots

Traditions in ScotlandThe video is about how traditional Scottish food died out in the 60s and how it is being revived in the 21st century

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25966146

Northern Ireland: BICOMMUNALISM

BicommunalismBi- - having two

Communal (conflict) between different communities, especially those having different religions or ethnic origins

Communalism - Allegiance to ones own ethnic group rather than to the wider society

Oxford English Dictionary

Bicommunal conflict: Roman Catholics vs. ProtestantsNorthern Ireland example of ethnoreligious bicommunalismIn Northern Ireland Protestants 63%; Roman Catholics 37%In the Republic of Ireland (The South) 96% of the population is CatholicSince 1960s the intercommunal hostilities caused over 2,500 deathsMixed couples unable to live safelyOrange Order Protestant sectarian organisation

Bicommunal conflict: Roman Catholics vs. Protestants (2)CatholicProtestantMusicTraditional Irish musicNon-Gaelic music rock, American country, westernSportsHurling, Gaelic footballRugby, soccerLanguageEnglish, IrishEnglishEducationCatholic schools greatly funded by the state (stress Irish and Gaelic themes in history and culture)Public Protestant schools (emphasize British history and heritage)GeographyWestern and Southern portions of the areaMost other areas

ReferencesNorthern IrelandNi Aolain, F. 1996. Where Hope and History Rhyme Prospects for Peace in Northern Ireland? Journal of International Affairs, 50/1: 63+Schmitt, D. E. 1988. Bicommunalism in Northern Ireland. Publius, 18/2: 33-45ScotlandCosgrove, S. 2014. In a year of big decisions, what does it mean to be Scottish? Accesed on 30th March, available from: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25966146Devine, T. 2014. Carving out a Scottish identity. Accesed on 30th March, available from: http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-devine-carving-out-a-scottish-identity-1-3122619McFarlane, A. 2014. What is the appeal of Scottish identity? Accesed on 30th March, available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8381874.stm

General Historical OverviewMcDowall, D. 2006. An Illustrated History of Britain. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.Lang, S. 2004. British History for Dummies. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

WalesMapping Welsh identity: How Welsh is your area? Accessed on 30th March, available from: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mapping-welsh-identity-how-welsh-1883006Shipton, M. 2010. Welsh identity unites and divides. Accessed on 30th March, available from: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-identity-unites-and-divides-1919651Holtham, G. 2011. What does it mean to be Welsh? Accessed on 30th March, available from: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/gerry-holtham-what-mean-welsh-1832759Chalabi , S. 2011. Eye on Wales: In search of 21st Century Welsh identity. Accessed on 30th March, available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14176558.

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