The Nations of Britain

by Bryant, Christopher G. A.

• ISBN13: 9780198742876
• ISBN10: 0198742878
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-12
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The Nations of Britain offers an up-to-date analysis of contemporary Britain, drawing upon sociology, politics, history and cultural studies. Focusing on each national region individually and also on a set of themes that cut across regional boundaries, including identity, multiculturalism, economy, policy and civil society, this is a timely account of a rapidly-changing nation.

Author Biography

Until 2004, Christopher Bryant was Professor of Sociology at the University of Salford. He has published extensively on sociological theory and political sociology, the latter with particular reference to the UK. He is a member of the international boards of The European Journal of Social Theory, International Sociology and The Polish Sociological Review, of ESRC's College of Postgraduate Training Assessors, and of the Advisory Board, Central European University, Warsaw.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	xi
List of Figures	xi
List of Maps	xi
Introduction: Thinking about the Union and its Future	1	(32)
Britain in question	1	(11)
Nations, nation-states, and nationalisms	12	(21)
Great Britain: The Post-Imperial Dilemma	33	(29)
Imperial Britain	33	(9)
Post-imperial Britain: first thoughts	42	(3)
National and regional differences	45	(12)
Can Britain be reforged?	57	(5)
Claiming Scotland	62	(55)
Introduction	62	(5)
Independent Scotland	67	(13)
Civil Scotland	80	(9)
Scotland in the Empire	89	(1)
Little Scotland	90	(2)
Scotland: civic and self-governing	92	(15)
Scotland in Europe	107	(2)
Conclusions	109	(8)
Voicing Wales	117	(40)
Introduction	117	(9)
Y Fro Gymraeg	126	(9)
Labour Wales	135	(3)
Anglo-British Wales	138	(2)
Cymru-Wales	140	(6)
Modern Wales	146	(3)
Conclusions	149	(8)
Speaking for England	157	(52)
Introduction	157	(4)
English England	161	(21)
Anglo-British England	182	(6)
Little England	188	(3)
Cosmopolitan England	191	(9)
Conclusions	200	(9)
The English Regions: Who Cares?	209	(30)
Introduction	209	(2)
Regions, regional development agencies, and regional assemblies	211	(6)
The North-East: a region conscious of itself	217	(4)
London: world city, metropolis, and region	221	(5)
Cornwall: nation, region, or county?	226	(4)
Conclusions: our regions, your choice	230	(9)
Britain: Relating to Others	239	(45)
Introduction	239	(1)
Ireland	239	(16)
The Commonwealth	255	(3)
The European Union	258	(16)
British citizenship	274	(10)
Conclusions: Britain and the Future	284	(15)
Contemporary constructions of Britain	284	(4)
Devolution, federalism, and asymmetry	288	(5)
Britishness in the twenty-first century	293	(6)
Index	299