1.1 National & Global identities

Question 1

what is a national identity?

Answer 1

feeling you are part of a larger community in the form of a nation e.g. British

Question 2

what sorts of symbols and rituals can remind people of their national identity?

Answer 2

flags, coins, national anthems

remembrance day

Question 3

why is it hard to describe a national identity in the UK?

Answer 3

multicultural society influenced by socialisation

Question 4

what do most people think are important aspects of British identity?

Answer 4

being born here, living here, speaking English, obeying the laws

Question 5

Goldblatt said british identity is created around what 5 things?

Answer 5

geography, religion, war, empire and cultural symbols

Question 6

Schudson - what are some ways people are socialised into a British identity?

Answer 6

a common language
education
national rituals
symbols

Question 7

Schudson - how are people socialised into a british identity through a common language?

Answer 7

English seen as central to our cultural identity

Question 8

Schudson - how are people socialised into a british identity through education?

Answer 8

teaching of history, English literature and religion reinforces shared values and gives a sense of pride in british history

Question 9

Schudson - how are people socialised into a british identity through national rituals?

Answer 9

royal weddings, coronations and remembrance all encourage people to take part and create a sense of britishness

Question 10

Schudson - how are people socialised into a british identity through symbols?

Answer 10

union jack, uniforms, passports, national anthems encourage patriotism especially within sport or wartime

Question 11

why might the british identity be in crisis?

Answer 11

regional identities (e.g. Scottish, welsh) 
multi culturalism
globalisation

Question 12

(celtic identity) there is evidence that people from wales stress which identity?

Answer 12

their welsh above their british identity

Question 13

(celtic identity) what has their been an increase in from 1981 to 2004?

Answer 13

the amount of people from wales speaking welsh

18.5% to 21.7% (welsh language use survey)

Question 14

(celtic identity) what did andy murray say when asked who he wanted to win the world cup?

Answer 14

anyone but england

Question 15

(celtic identity) the Scottish rugby supporters sing flower of Scotland before matches, what is this a song about?

Answer 15

fighting against the English

Question 16

(celtic identity) how does singing before rugby matches reinforce a Scottish identity?

Answer 16

pride - winning the English
clear ethnic identity
shared culture

Question 17

some would say the English identity is negative and exclusive why?

Answer 17

growth of groups such as the EDL

Question 18

based on his study Hewitt claims young white English youths feel they have invisible culture, what does he mean?

Answer 18

in a deprived w/c estate he found white youth felt every culture was celebrated except their own

Question 19

(globalisation) national identity may be threatened by globalisation, what is globalisation?

Answer 19

process of world becoming interconnected due to increased travel and technology

Question 20

what did Hall suggest about globalisation?

Answer 20

countries have 3 different reactions

Question 21

(hall) 1. globalisation is leading to cultures becoming more similar what is this process called?

Answer 21

homogenisation

Question 22

(Hall) 1. there are concerns that American culture is taking over, how?

Answer 22

brands - mcdonalds, starbucks
tv, film and music
promote the American lifestyle

Question 23

(Hall) 1. with reference to globalisation Marxists talk about the coca-colonisation of the world saying we now have what?

Answer 23

a global norm

Question 24

(Hall) 2. what would other sociologists argue to counter Marxists?

Answer 24

we have always traded with other nations and this hasn’t wiped out national differences

Question 25

(Hall) 2. globalisation may lead to hybrid cultures, what are these?

Answer 25

when local and global cultures interact to produce new forms of culture

Question 26

(Hall) 2. give an example of hybrid culture?

Answer 26

migrants from India to Britain describe themselves as British Asian

Question 27

(Hall) 3. some cultures may respond by resisting global culture and protecting their heritage what does this lead to them becoming? and what did Hall call this?

Answer 27

more traditional and nationalistic

cultural resistance

Question 28

what do postmodernists think of globalisation? what does it give us more choice in?

Answer 28

it is positive

gives more choice in our identity

Question 29

but, globalisation can lead to what? (postmodernists)

Answer 29

fragmentation of identity e.g. eroding british identity

Question 30

Postmodernists argue global culture is not entirely what?

Answer 30

American/western

there are other influences e.g. indian food

Question 31

(multicultural society) Back found new hybrid identities emerging amongst who?

Answer 31

young white, Asian and black people on a council estate in london

Question 32

(multicultural society) Back - the young people tried out new cultural masks, what did he mean by this?

Answer 32

they experimented with different styles and symbols

Question 33

(multicultural society) what did Back find among the young people from the different ethnic groups?

Answer 33

a lot of friendships

borrowing from other groups e.g. slang terms, music tastes

Question 34

(multicultural society) Back found the new identities being formed achieved what?

Answer 34

brought black and white people closer

Question 35

national cultures are always what?

Answer 35

changing