Identity Flashcards
Scales
Identity can be evident at a number of scales:
• Localism: An affection for or emotional ownership
of a particular place. Localism rarely manifests
itself in a political sense but can be demonstrated in
‘nimbyism’ (not in my backyard) which occurs when
people are reluctant to have their local area affected
by development.
• Regionalism: Consciousness of, and loyalty to,
a distinct region with a population that shares
similarities.
• Nationalism: Loyalty and devotion to a nation, which
creates a sense of national consciousness. Patriotism
could be considered as an example of a sense of place.
Identify nationally
Through Common language National anthem Flag Cultural and sporting events
Eg a resurgence in the welsh language and culture has highlighted a stronger national identity amongst the welsh
Religion
Religion, too, can be used to foster a sense of identity
in place. At a local level, churches, mosques and
synagogues are places where people from the same
religious identity come together to worship. There
may also be larger sacred places such as Bethlehem or
Mecca where people go on pilgrimages.
Globalisation of place
Some argue that globalisation has made place less
important as the forces of global capitalism have eroded
local cultures and produced identical or homogenised
places ). This can be seen through the increased presence of global chains such as Starbucks
in high streets all over the world.
that ‘every place is like no place in particular. In
the UK, the term ‘clone town’ has been used to describe
settlements where the high street is dominated by chain
stores. The term placelessness has also been used to
describe such places.
Globalisation 2
Some local places and cultures are resisting the
power of globalisation, as shown by the anti-Costa
campaign in Tones, Devon in 2012 (see text box).
Multinational companies are also increasingly
having to adapt to the local marketplace. This is
known as glocalisation. One example of this is the
McDonald’s franchise. There are currently more
than 38,000 McDonald’s restaurants in over
100 countries around the world, but the aim to
increase profits has led to the company adapting
its brand and product to the local market place.
In Hindu countries, for example, beef has been
removed from the menu while in Muslim countries,
Totnes Costa cafes
In 2012, the coffee chain Costa set about trying to
open an outlet in the South Devon town of Totnes.
Within weeks of the proposal, three-quarters of the
town’s population had signed a petition saying that
they supported the independent high street and would
boycott any coffee shop chain that came to Tones.
The
opposition was not anti-capitalist, rather a community
fiercely proud of its independently-owned outlets and
one eager to prevent Tones becoming a ‘clone town’.
After an eight-month battle, Costa dropped their plans,
announcing: ‘Costa has recognised the strength of
feeling in Tones against national brands and taken into
account the specific circumstances of Totes.
However,
in 2019 a coffee shop from a different national brand did
in fact open a branch in Totes. Either the community’s
opposition to such brands has lessened or there is some
inevitability in becoming a clone town.
Localisation of a place
Place has become a political symbol for people fighting
against global capitalism. One particular response has
been a greater focus on ‘local’ place and the promotion
of local goods and services.
Some places have introduced a local currency to
encourage people to shop locally and keep their money
in the local economy. Tones in South Devon led the
way in 2007, but the local currency ended in 2019. The
Bristol Pound was launched in 2012. In 2020, Bristol
was looking for ways of creating an e-wallet, a local
version of GooglePay or ApplePay, and ways of adapting to a cashless economy
