National identities

Question 1

Nationality is a social construction

Answer 1

nation= imagined community

socially constructed through symbols such as the flag and anthem, rituals such as national holidays and festivals

Question 2

Education
Phillips et al
What does the national curriculum support the idea of?
lesson in school?
How are people connected/what do they share?
Which perspective are historical events told in?
Example

Answer 2

The national curriculum supports the idea of nationalism
History lessons are a key factor in creating national identity- national events/ myths create a national conscience and a collective identity where people feel connected through history
The perspective of historical events is that of the country it is being taught in therefore in the British education system. For example, the events of WW1 and WW2 are mostly taught in the perspective of British soldiers or British involvement= shared sense of history and national identity

Question 3

Schuden
What culture are British people socialised into?
How? (5)

Answer 3

British people are socialised into a common national culture and identity through:
Common language (english)
Education (national curriculum
National rituals (world cup, Olympics, Rememberance Sunday etc)
Symbols (England rose, Union Jack)
The mass media (The BBC, The Sun)

Question 4

Kumar

Which 3 groups find it difficult to say who they are? which group does not?

Answer 4

The Welsh, Irish and English have difficulty identifying who they are unlike the Scots
The English national identity is discriminative
The history of the English as civil people has developed a sense of’missionary nationalism’ - aiming for unity and empire has resulted in repression of ordinary expressions of nationalism
quest to expand Britishness may have diluted Englishness

Question 5

What has occurred in recent years to suggest that the English national identity has strengthened?
Three things that had increased the significance of the English national identity?
When do aspects of identity become significant?

Answer 5

As a result of devolution, economic crises and increasing immigration, the English national identity has become more apparent.
Any aspect of identity increases in significance to individuals if it is seen as a source of conflict or oppression e.g. cultural resistance Cashmore and Troyna

Question 6

Hewitt
What do the working classes in Britain think ethnic minorities are receiving? (term)
Who was interviewed?
What area of social life?
What was found? (how did young white people feel)
Examples? (advert, campaign)

Answer 6

There has been a white backlash from working classes in Bitain as they believe that ethnic minorities are receiving preferential treatment.
Education has faced backlash
Interviewed youth workers and found that young white people felt as though they were victimised by teachers in comparison to their ethnic minority peers eg the white pupil would face consequences if a fight occurred with a non white student as it would be assumed that the fight was racially caused
As a result the education system can reinforce white British national identities

Examples where there has been a white backlash
Christmas advert by Sainsburys- portrayed a black family in the advert which faced back lash from some customers
All Lives Matter which started because of Black Lives Matter

Question 7

The effects of globalisation on nationality
what is happening to national identities?
phrase?
agents of socialisation?

Answer 7

national identity is becoming less significant due to globalisation
national boundaries and cultures less significant ‘citizens of the world’- internet/social media

Question 8

Hall

Three responses countries may have to globalisation

Answer 8

Three responses countries may have to globalisation

• accept a global culture - cultural homogenisation
• combine some parts of global culture with their individual cultures - cultural hybrids
• resist global cultural by becoming more nationalistic and traditional - cultural resistance

Question 9

Featherstone and Rogerson
Why is cultural homogenisation occurring? (4)
Software?
What is broadcast globally? What does this do?

Answer 9

Cultural homogenisation is occurring due to:

• Computer software-not localised so Microsoft reflects western ways of thinking
• Advertising- by the west is broadcast globally- ‘desirable’
• Antisocial behaviour- on the internet can reflect western ideas about morality and deviance
• Digital communication does not give rules or police morality and ethics