National Identity Theorists

Question 1

Which theorists prove the importance of national identity?

Answer 1

Stuart Hall (1991)
Benedict Anderson (1983)
Anthony Giddens
Anthony Smith

Question 2

Which theorists prove that national identity isn’t important?

Answer 2

Kumar (2003)
Sadar (2002)
Stuart Hall (1991)
Halsey (2000)
Batman (1996)
McLuhan (1964)

Question 3

Stuart Hall

Answer 3

(1991)
Responses to globalisation:
- cultural homogenisation
- cultural hybridity
- cultural resistance

Question 4

Sadar

Answer 4

(2002)
‘English’ is based on old traditions which make it hard for people to identity with their English identity

Question 5

McLuhan

Answer 5

(1964)
‘Global village’
Globalisation = national identity is less important

Question 6

Halsey

Answer 6

(2000)
Britain has lost its distinctiveness and its becoming americanised.

Question 7

Bauman

Answer 7

(1996)
Modern world identity is now a choice
Has become like a “pilgrimage” of identity which makes it pointless because a pilgrimage has an end goal, and this requires certainty which is not possible when it comes to identity because things change too much and too quick.

Question 8

Kumar

Answer 8

(2003)
English identity is elusive due to history of English being seen as superior to Scottish, Welsh and Irish people.

Question 9

Benedict Anderson

Answer 9

(1983)
Imagined Communities
- national community is imaginary but still important
- socially constructed through symbols
- for example, holidays/ Bank Holidays
- people are doing the same thing at the same time which creates a sense of togetherness

Question 10

Anthony Smith

Answer 10

The formation of nations
- nations can’t be created from nothing
- artificial ‘imposed nations’ fail
- nations need community bound by : language, culture, religion ect

Question 11

Anthony Giddens

Answer 11

When is national identity important?
- when it is threatened
- people embrace the idea of ‘we group’ and ‘them group’ (similar to othering)