For England's Sake!

Edited by Gareth Young

Why does England lack political representation, when Scotland and Wales have their own parliaments? Why is English nationalism associated with intolerance, rather than with an inclusive pride and patriotism? Why is Westminster maintaining its silence on the English question, with a referendum on Scottish independence on the horizon? Why are 'English' and 'England' inconvenient words for politicians?

It is time to ask these questions - not only of unionists and English nationalists, but of all citizens, regardless of their national identity.

This is not about Last Night at the Proms or chicken tikka masala; we reject such attempts to patronise. This is about England, and the right to build a self-aware and self-determining nation.

As we watch the ascent of a resentful English nationalism, and the growth of Scottish and Welsh separatism as a response to the Anglocentrism of the British state, the question of England - long stifled by the British establishment - is in more need of answers than ever before: Are we citizens of nowhere or citizens of England?

Buyer Beware: David "snake oil" Cameron does not know his product

Gareth Young 18 February 2012
Cameron must limit Scotland's choices because financial autonomy for Scotland would arguably have a more profound affect on the status quo than Scottish Independence.

The English conversation has finally begun. What took so long?

Sunder Katwala 1 February 2012
Englishness is finally finding a voice, after more than a century. Why has it been muted this long, and is it time now for a strong civic nation, or will an England of blood and soil emerge?

How should 'political England' be recognised?

Lewis Baston 27 January 2012
England has a political identity, but how can this be given an expression? English votes for English laws? An English Parliament? Let the discussion of practical solutions begin.

The Black English

Roifield Brown 26 January 2012
Being English is not a question of blood, of purity: it has always been a multi-racial alliance.

New faces of nationalism

Tom Nairn 26 January 2012
Around the globe, new forms of governance are being sought to counter-balance the hyper-empire of global capitalism. Scotland is developing its own resistance, could England follow suit?

The debate on Englishness can no longer be avoided

Anthony Painter 26 January 2012
An increasingly assertive English nationalism; the prospect of an independent Scotland; the economic crisis.... the English question is ready to explode. Evasion tactics are deeply embedded, but even these are about to fail.

Historic day for the UK: Salmond consults Scotland but can't civilise Paxman

Gerry Hassan 25 January 2012
Scotland's Prime Minister has launched a consultation with the people over the coming independence referendum. He seeks a calm, normal process but will Westminster let him have it? the tables are already turned as the nationalists are rational and the traditional Unionists become incoherent retro-romantics.

Time to take Britain out of our greatness

Anthony Barnett 25 January 2012

Finally, the nature and future of England may become part of the national debate in the UK, as Scotland's First Minister appeals to the English who have not spoken yet and IPPR announces the discovery of England's emerging political community.

Is Britishness a generous thing, or has it damaged England?

Neal Ascherson and Peter Oborne 17 January 2012
The Daily Telegraph's Peter Oborne and Scottish writer Neal Ascherson discuss national identity in light of the approaching referendum on Scottish independence.

British Future: State of the Nation(s) 2012

Gareth Young 12 January 2012
For those interested in the constitutional future of the United Kingdom, the Hopes and Fears State of the Nation 2012 report by British Future provides interesting reading.

The national question and the greatest living English poet

Nick Pearce 5 January 2012
Can Englishness be articulated to a progressive project? Perhaps its time to turn to Geoffrey Hill, a poet immersed in the complexities and richness of England.

Whose Englishness is it anyway?

Christine Berberich 4 January 2012
Originally published by the Journal of American, British and Canadian Studies.
Berberich, Christine (2009) “A peculiarly English idiosyncrasy?”: Julian Barnes’s use of lists in England, England. American, British and Canadian Studies, 13. pp. 75-87. ISSN 1841-1487
Republished by kind permission.

Capital E Nationalism versus little e (and €) capitalism

David Rickard 3 January 2012
To be a big player in Europe, England needs to be a big nation. Britain cannot fulfill that role because it is not a nation, but an empty shell.

No Union, please, we’re English

John Lloyd 31 December 2011
The UK's Cabinet Secretary has warned of the break up of the union if the Scottish vote for independence, making the issue mainstream.

Patriotic love should not be blind: a response to Demos' Britishness report

Andrew Mycock 19 December 2011
A critical look at Demos' latest exposition of Britishness, 'A Pride for Place'.

Restating Scotland

Restating Scotland

More

OurNHS

More

Democratic Wealth

More

Thatcher's legacy

More

G4S: securing whose world?

G4S - securing whose world? Image of security camera focused on G4S

More

Re-birth of the nation?

More

Devalue or Else!

Roj, Flickr

More

Can Europe Make It?

More

Syndicate content