open Democracy News Analysis - Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey, OurKingdom - Comments

Cruachan on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

Cruachan — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:42:53 +0100

30 Months and counting.....

The unravelling of British Labour is the other side of the coin to the inexorable unravellling of the concept of Britain. UK Labour (and, I would add, the UK state, civil servants and London-based media) have been suprisingly slow to adapt to the emerging realities of a confident (and popular) SNP Government in Scotland and a post-devolution Britain.

Whilst we can all agree that Wendy Alexander's tactics and timing over the "Bring it on" referendum question was inept, it is clear that she and some of her fellow Labour MSPs recognise the historical shift that is happening in Scotland - and perhaps other parts of the UK. Readying Scottish Labour for a post independence Scotland - or even a Scotland with a much higher level of devolved powers to Holyrood - is perhaps the only game in town for an increasingly desperate Labour Party.

The practical achievements, and political panache, Alex Salmond and his Government have demonstrated in its first year stand in stark contrast to the downward spiral of UK and Scottish Labour. This is not "just" about the independence issue but about which party is best placed to safeguard and advance the social democratic values that Labour used to champion. Attacks on civil liberties, ID cards, nuclear policy, subservience to American global interests, illegal wars and creeping privatisation of the NHS are what is turning people way from Labour in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

The SNP is offering Scotland a new vision and a new kind of politics which could be a positive model for all the nations of Britain. Whether Scottish Labour and the "British Labour Party" can adjust in time will be interesting to watch over the next few years. With less than 30 months before the Referendum, they are running out of time.

Ray Bell on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

Ray Bell — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:16:16 +0100

A well written article that I agree with a lot of.

By the way though, some of the most anti-English people I have come across in Scotland have been unionist. Not nationalists - work that one out!!!

They support any sports team against England and then vote Labour....

Anax on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

Anax — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:30:56 +0100

"Firstly, I believe the country is becoming 'decultured' - losing touch
with its heritage, folk culture, identity and history, and that this
matters."

Don't you think it's ironic complaining about this on a blog?

The Cornish Democrat on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

The Cornish Democrat — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:47:53 +0100

"they seem to think that affirming any sort of national identity and putting it at the centre of a political programme is by definition retrograde (if not regressive) and reactionary"

Indeed! Society can by analysed vertically via the lense of class but also horizontally in terms peoples and territories.

Both are valid and both can be progressive.

http://thecornishdemocrat.blogspot.com/

Lee Jakeman on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

Lee Jakeman — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:09:48 +0100

Paul,

In the same way that personal limitations are the main obstacle to personal development, cultural limitations are the main impediment to national development.

Your final comment "and so resolve to build our future from the good rather than repeating the divisions and repressions of the past" implicitly recognises this.

britologywatch on "Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey"

britologywatch — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:30:49 +0100

I agree with you, Paul. One of the main problems 'progressive' people have with English nationalism is the nationalism: they seem to think that affirming any sort of national identity and putting it at the centre of a political programme is by definition retrograde (if not regressive) and reactionary. This is perhaps predicated on a belief that 'progress' implies movement towards an 'a-national' world order: one in which the differences between nations are abolished - the integrationist variant of the EU project being one version of this a-nationalism. Paradoxically, this denial of 'affirmative Englishness' is also a very English trait: we English do not like to make a song and dance about how 'great' our nation is - except in the 'trans-national', displaced projection of English pride and national aggression that is Britishness.

Psychologically, the two things go together, of course: aggressive denial of Englishness, which is a turning in on itself of 'English aggression', which - having been repressed within England / Britain - is then acted out in a displaced form through 'British' aggression and delusions of grandeur on the international stage. This schizoid duality will continue until we English are prepared to accept both the good and bad things about the English past and present; and so resolve to build our future from the good rather than repeating the divisions and repressions of the past.

Why we need English nationalism: a reply to Peter Facey, OurKingdom

Guy Aitchison — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:19:13 +0100

Paul Kingsnorth (Oxford, author Real England): Peter Facey of Unlock Democracy has posed an interesting personal question. He feels the issues of identity but draws back for fear of having to embrace the bad with the good and asks isn't nationalism always going to be about airing grievances? An interesting question. I have only recently begun to refer to myself as an 'English nationalist', and not without some reservations. When I see idiots like the English Democrats doing their anti-Scottish thing, or engage in blog arguments with bigots from both England and Scotland who seem to think that the purpose of their nationalism is to allow them to each blame the other for their political plights, or engage in personal attacks, it makes me want to give up and go home.

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