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Published in: openDemocracyUKBorn in South Africa but representing England: a response to Peter OborneResponding to the controversial dropping of Kevin Pietersen from the England cricket team, The Telegraph's political...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKAn island story: Boyle's Olympic opening was irresistibly BritishLondon 2012's opening ceremony evoked a 'gently fierce' national pride that was uniquely British in character.
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Published in: openDemocracyUKFestivals, nu-folk and the allure of the 'temporary community'
Intimate 'boutique' festivals are mushrooming across the English countryside. Their biggest selling point: a sense...
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Published in: openDemocracyUK'Isles of Wonder'? - some thoughts on the 'Little World' of the London OlympicsDanny Boyle's recently unveiled prototype for the London 2012 Opening Ceremony is centred around a nostalgic image...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKThe Last Great British Summer for EnglandThe desperate construction of cultural Britishness observable in this summer's Jubilee and Olympics is just another...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKLabour should talk about England (but no action, please): Ed Miliband on the Union
The Labour leader has set out his defence of the Union in a speech that appealed to his party to recognise England...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKThe ‘Great British Summer’, or Last of the British Summer Wine?
The festivities around the London Olympics and Diamond Jubilee will paint a picture of a stable, timeless...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKModernising the unmodernisable : Cool Britannia and realityJohn Davey argues that it's time for the English to take the initiative and put the democratically sclerotic British...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKRepublican Kings: the risks and limitations of mayors
Today, London will choose their future mayor, and cities around England will vote on whether they want to switch to...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKEnglish city mayors: a sticking plaster on the north south divide
Will directly-elected Mayors be a blessing or a curse for local democracy in England? Can they redress the imbalance...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKSt George's Day, a retrospective
In Britain, there is a country that is not officially celebrated: England. But it has a national day: St George's...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKElected mayors cannot deliver a localist revival
Directly-elected Mayors in England will centralise power, deepen bureaucracy and lead to a politics of celebrity....
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Published in: openDemocracyUKPatriots in the decent sense: rediscovering English nationalismEnglish nationalism has long been trapped between American-led globalisation and small-minded nostalgia. Can England...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKMayors for all major English cities? A democratic argument
In May, England's largest cities will be asked whether or not they want directly-elected Mayors. This is an...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKCameron and the future of the Union: a forum
The Prime Minister has conceded that there will be a Scottish independence referendum and argued the case for the...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKBuyer Beware: David "snake oil" Cameron does not know his product
Cameron must limit Scotland's choices because financial autonomy for Scotland would arguably have a more profound...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKThe English conversation has finally begun. What took so long?
Englishness is finally finding a voice, after more than a century. Why has it been muted this long, and is it time...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKHow should 'political England' be recognised?
England has a political identity, but how can this be given an expression? English votes for English laws? An...
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Published in: openDemocracyUKThe Black English
Being English is not a question of blood, of purity: it has always been a multi-racial alliance.
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Published in: openDemocracyUKNew faces of nationalism
Around the globe, new forms of governance are being sought to counter-balance the hyper-empire of global capitalism....
