National identities

Question 1

What is national identity?

Answer 1

The feeling of being part of a larger community, in the form of a nation, which gives a sense of purpose and meaning to people’s lives, as well as a sense of belonging

Question 2

How can national identity be expressed?

Answer 2

• Supporting your nation (e.g. sporting events)
• Pride (anthem, language, flag)

Question 3

What did Anderson say about national identities?

Answer 3

‘Nation’ is an imagined community (members never meet, but still make up a community). National identity is a social construction, influenced by the media

Question 4

How is national identity socially constructed?

Answer 4

• Symbols/rituals
• National language
• Conflicts
• War
• International sporting events
• Royal family

Question 5

What did Kumar say about national identities?

Answer 5

Unlike the Welsh, Scottish, N Irish, the English find it more difficult to define their identity. National identity is elusive. Quest to expand Britishness may have diluted

Question 6

How can Jenkin’s theory about identity apply to national identities?

Answer 6

Many British people don’t see their national identity as important, but outsiders may see this as an important part of their identity

Question 7

What did Guibernau and Goldblatt say about national identities?

Answer 7

British identity is a fairly recent invention, that is based on themes, including: geography, war, monarchy

Question 8

What did Skey say about national identities?

Answer 8

British identity is sometimes expressed by the sentiment that ‘others’ are threatening Britishness. Encourages extremist groups to become ‘more British’ in response (EDL)

Question 9

What did Curtice and Heath say about national identities?

Answer 9

Conducted a survey of 3,000 English, Scottish, Welsh groups- Scottish and Welsh groups had a much stronger national identities than English groups. Little Englanders

Question 10

What are ‘Little Englanders’?

Answer 10

Rise in number of people who claimed to be English, rather than British

Question 11

What did Sardar say about national identities?

Answer 11

‘Englishness’ was based on historical traditions, that are meaningless to the vast majority. Struggle to find English identity. To develop a more confident identity, we must embrace diversity on common humanity- identity crisis

Question 12

What did Howe (Channel 4- White Tribe) say about national identities?

Answer 12

Grew up in Caribbean, as part of the British empire. sees himself as black and British. But growth of English nationalism seems more exclusive and white

Question 13

What are the 3 responses to globalisation according to Hall?

Answer 13

• Cultural homogenisation (countries becoming more similar)
• Cultural hybridity (cultures merging)
• Cultural resistance (protect cultural heritage)

Question 14

What did Halsey say about national identities?

Answer 14

‘Our lives are becoming hopelessly Americanised’- due to cultural homogenisation. It is increasingly difficult to pinpoint Britishness

Question 15

What did Condor say about national identities?

Answer 15

British identity is declining. Whilst Welsh and Scots have developed a strong sense of national identity, the English are experiencing an identity crisis. Many unwilling to adopt the symbols of English identity

Question 16

What did Kennedy and Danks say about national identities?

Answer 16

NI are declining. Being undermined by globalisation. Developments in technology mean people are exposed to and can access information and consumer products from all over the world

Question 17

How can national identities be undermined by economic globalisation?

Answer 17

British companies and products are taken over by foreign companies- British companies having to close down. Concerns about US culture taking over British high street companies

Question 18

How are national identities eroding as a result of cultural globalisation?

Answer 18

British people spend leisure time watching TV/music produced for the global market. Use of global commodities (Nike, Apple, Coke) is widespread. Global networking sites widespread. Little difference in leisure activities of youth in UK vs in USA, Brazil, India, Japan

Question 19

What did Sindic say about national identities?

Answer 19

Globalisation has lead to an increase in choice of global products- little sign these transcend national identity. Greater choice of food from multitude of countries, but they are identified by origin. People choose to use internet to strengthen national identity, and to reinforce country based differences

Question 20

What are some reasons agreeing with the statement- ‘National identity is declining’?

Answer 20

• Cultural homogenisation
• Cultural hybridity
• Americanisation
• Globalisation
• Immigration/migration
• NI as a social construct

Question 21

What are some reasons agreeing with the statement- ‘National identity is being strengthened’?

Answer 21

• Cultural resistance
• Globalisation
• Extremist groups (migration)
• Conflict/oppression
• Devolution

Question 22

What evidence is there to support cultural homogenisation as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 22

• Halsey: our lives are becoming hopelessly Americanised
• Hall: responses to globalisation

Question 23

What evidence is there to support cultural hybridity as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 23

• Hall: responses to globalisation

Question 24

What evidence is there to support Americanisation as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 24

• Halsey: our lives are becoming hopelessly Americanised

Question 25

What evidence is there to support globalisation as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 25

• Kennedy and Danks: globalisation undermines national identities: cultural and economic globalisation

Question 26

What evidence is there to support immigration as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 26

• Skey: ‘others’ are challenging the English identity

Question 27

What evidence is there to support NI as a social construct as a reason for declining NI?

Answer 27

• Anderson: ‘imagined community

Question 28

What evidence is there to support cultural resistance as a reason for strengthened NI?

Answer 28

• Hall: responses to globalisation

Question 29

What evidence is there to support globalisation as a reason for strengthened NI?

Answer 29

• Sindic: increase in choice of global products

Question 30

What evidence is there to support extremist groups as a reason for strengthened NI?

Answer 30

• Skey: ‘others’ threaten Britishness. Groups support, e.g. EDL, Britain First

Question 31

What evidence is there to support conflict/oppression as a reason for strengthened NI?

Answer 31

• Guibernau and Goldblatt: NI based on themes, e.g. war