12 Flashcards
Chauvinism vs ignorance
British people are more ignorant towards others than hostile,
Learning foreign languages
They do not have to learn a foreign language after the age of 14
The Commonwealth
membership,
annual meetings,
trade agreements
Composed of countries that used to be part of the empire
They meet annually
Before becoming the member of the European Economic community, Commonwealth members had special trading agreements between each other
The armed forces
military service,
branches
military interventions since 1982,
the CND
No compulsory military service
branches – the Royal Navy
the Royal Air Force
- the army
Falklands War, Gulf War, Balkan peacekeeping, Afghanistan
CND – Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament – Britain still has a nuclear force, although a small one
UK-US „special relationship
sense of belonging vs bitterness
Both reassuring being diplomatically close to the most powerful nation in the world and mild bitterness about the power of the USA
UK-US „special relationship
low points, common operations
Suez, USA invasion of Grenada (member of Commowealth)
UK-US „special relationship
decline,
consequences
Since joining European Communities, the special relationship declined, Britain is just a part of the European trading block
Majority of visitors to Britain are now from Europe
UK-EU relations
2 UK referendums
Referentum on continued membership in 1975
Referendum on leaving EU in 2016
UK-EU relations
the British sense of apartness,
consequences
They know that their country is geographically part of Europe, but they just dont feel it
As a consequence, only third of the British electorate voted in European elections
UK-EU relations
EU laws and regulations
issues of interference,
sovereignty,
way of life
EU laws and regulations are perceived as interference by a „foreign“ organization
Sovereignty is the autonomy and independence of the UK
British fear EU laws are a threat to the British „way of life“
UK-EU relations
imperial measures,
metric martyrs
The British were fighting to preserve the imperial measures in trading,
Metric martyrs were traders who were selling vegetables in imperial measures
Relations inside the UK
Scotland
situation in Scotland before/after the 1980s
Before 1980s they were happy to be part of the UK, from the mid 1980s majority wanted to govern themselves or complete independence.
Relations inside the UK
Scotland
the Scottish Parliament – formation and powers
The Scottish Parliament was created in 1999 (300 years after its abolishment), it has powers over internal Scottish affairs, it can do little regarding defence, foreign policy and economic policy.
Relations inside the UK
Scotland
support for the Tories in Scotland
Supporting self-government.
Relations inside the UK
Scotland
the West Lothian question (important)
Westminster MPs cannot vote on matters of health, education, law and order or welfare in Scotland, because Scotland has a separate parliament which decides these matters.
Wales
anglicized vs nationalistic parts
South-eastern and north-eastern parts are anglicized.
Central and western parts are nationalistic.
Wales
the Welsh Assembly – formation and powers (compared with the Scottish Parliament)
Referendum on a national Welsh Assembly produced a very narrow majority in favour.
Its powers are much more limited than those of Scotland.
Wales
Wales and the Union flag
In the Union flag, nothing represents Wales, some Welsh MPs asked for a change in the flag, but nationalists do not agree with it.
Northern Ireland
the 2 communities
Catholic and Protestant
Northern Ireland
the name Ulster
Name of one of the ancient kingdoms of Ireland.
Northern Ireland
Bloody Sunday,
„the Troubles“
30.1.1972 British troops shot dead 14 unarmed Catholic marchers.
the Troubles were terrorist attacks and support for extremist political parties
Northern Ireland
the arrival/withdrawal of British troops
British troops arrived in 1969 and withdrew in 1972.
Northern Ireland
the peace process
The peace process began in 1998 with Good Friday Agreement and ended in around 2007.
Northern Ireland
the Good Friday agreement
This agreement gave the Republic of Ireland a small degree of power sharing and everybody born in Northern Ireland had the right to be a citizen of the Republic, as long as majority wanted it, they would remain a part of the UK.
Northern Ireland
the involvement of the Republic of Ireland
The agreement involved not only all the political parties in the province but also the Irish and British governments.
Northern Ireland
self government,
composition
Self government was estabilished in 2007 with an elected assembly and a cross-party cabinet.
Northern Ireland
3 factors – why the violence ended:
- Gradual process of righting the economic and social wrongs which led to the Civil Rights movement
- 9/11 – terrorist attacks were no longer supported by Irish-Americans if they carried out terrorist acts.
- Transformation of the south of Ireland from a backward priest-ridden country to a modern, dynamic economy.
Northern Ireland
emancipation of Catholics
Catholics have the same rights as Protestants nowadays.
Northern Ireland
9/11
After this terrorist attack, the extremist groups which carried out similar acts stopped receiving support from Irish-Americans.
Northern Ireland
extremist groups – republican, at least 1 loyalist
IRA (Irish Republican Army),
loyalist group was UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters)
