Is a relatively recent of three older nations. The United

Kingdom only in 1801.

Historical developments, common institutional structures and

alleged values have this inherently unstable

. The growth of a British identity, for some historians,

began largely in the eighteenth century and was conditioned by Protestantism in England, Scotland and Wales, and the expanding empire, which of drese nations.

One side of the debate that Protestantism in

England, Wales and Scotland promoted a sense of

from the Catholicism of most of continental Europe. European military victories in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries helped the British to create a worldwide empire with no one to challenge Britain's

. The establishment of foreign markets expanded trade

and job opportunities, promoted wealth and economic

strength and increased a sense of national identity, making people

it. The English, Scots, Welsh and (partly) the Irish all

the notion of a British Empire and a

British identity.

But, for some historians, the ties of this common British identity have weakened. The empire has disappeared and Britain has experienced a reduced world role since 1945. Protestant belief and

strength in modern Britain as has

increased and as the country has become more multicultural and multi-

religious. A sense of British national confidence and

has also declined, to be replaced with confusion, and .

Arguably, a within Europe is required. The

is that the current movement is away from Britishness

and towards a renewal of the identities of the four ancient nations within a European and global context. It points to a potential

of Englishness and its strengths, as well as indicating

the difficulties in defining what is meant by a "nation". It also suggests

nationalist reactions to a globalization of economics,

international features and for all foreign and the easy

assumption that global effects are inevitable and overpowering.

The following text deals with the findings of the public opinion poll taken of the population's attitude to national identity. Read it and do the tasks that follow.

'Confident Celts Put England in Shade: Welsh and Scots Find New Pride as English Face Identity Crisis'

(Mark Henderson, die Times')

The English are a dull, petty and insecure people who are increasingly reviled by their proud Celtic neighbours, according to a survey into national identity published today.

While devolved Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are emerging as confident nations with a strong sense of local identity, Englishness is in crisis, die report by die brand consultants Springpoint says. The [English] national character is seen at best as quaint and boring and at worst vulgar, materialistic and loutish. It is summed up by football hooligans, staid City gents and 'people just talking about nothingness', and is disdained by the rest of the United Kingdom. The English find none of the inspiration that Scots, Welsh and Irish derive from dieir nationhood and are often 'dumped widi all the least desirable traits and characteristics of Britishness, including the less attractive colonial ones'. Positive aspects of Englishness - tolerance, the Royal Family and fine public services such as the health service — are now seen as part of a new British identity that embraces Scots, Welsh and Irish as well.

The report, I? UK - Voices of Our Times, finds an affinity for a wide range of national symbols, such as fish and chips, Wimbledon and Big Ben, but these 'do not add up to a national identity that connects with people, feeds and inspires them and makes them feel proud'. Instead, there is widespread insecurity and self-consciousness. The English see themselves as 'people just talking about nothingness' in Laura Ashley sitting rooms, who are 'petty, envious, obsessed with money, small-minded, divided'. They feel that 'Englishness is increasingly irrelevant as a notion, and something from which they distance themselves'. The traits are most marked in the South East, which attracts opprobrium both from the Celtic fringe and the North [of England], Those from the North of England have a strong regional identity, which they often place ahead of an Englishness they can find alien and embarrassing. Many feel closer to the odier nations than the English of the South.

The report concluded: 'Combine the energetic defiance and criticism of the English and England from newly confident Scottish and Welsh; some English people's own insecurity and defensiveness about their own identity; the possible fragmentation of the United Kingdom through devolution; and hints of a more positive, emerging identity for Britain which co-opts some of the positive values of England - and you have a recipe for a 'crisis of Englishness.'

The research involved m-depth interviews with a socially representative range of adults in regional centres across the United Kingdom. Fiona Gilmore, managing director of Springpoint, said the 'crisis of Englishness' was a thread that ran through the 77-page report. 'I was amazed at its strength,' she said. "The English are seen - and see themselves - as insular, restrained, pompous and obsessed with money. Their positive qualities are shared by Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish, but diese nations have lots of particular qualities as well.¹

Scots felt by far the strongest separate national allegiance. They have a clear idea of who they are - 'tough and hardy, outdoor, friendly, warm'. They are entiiusiastic about their history and traditions, and dieir identity is well-understood and respected outside Scotland. The success of the film Braveheart and impending devolution have helped to fuel a burgeoning sense of nationhood diat 'can provide an emotional uplift, an inspiration, even spiritual feelings.'

Wales is less aggressive in its national feeling, and its people are more vague about how they identify it. Even so, there is a strong underlying sense of common identity. The Welsh emphasize the strength of communities, a friendly, welcoming character and a sense of social responsibility. 'In some ways this can be difficult to pin down, but it seems to be about genuineness and integrity, a real sense of caring,' the report found. Man}' Welsh felt their country was re-emerging after years in England's shadow, as the language revives and devolution and economic regeneration progress. 'We're rediscovering ourselves through the language and culture, the beauty of the country,' one Cardiff respondent said.

Northern Irish identity was also distinct, both from Irishness and the rest of the United Kingdom, though the bulk of the research focused only on Ulster Protestants. They had an easy-going and down-to-earth character, a hardworking streak and a love for 'good crack'. Others said they identified neither with the 'shamrocks and leprechauns' of the Republic nor 'Brits' from the mainland.

Britishness was picked out as an increasingly powerful concept that encompassed opportunity, respect, tolerance and supportiveness. as well as some sense of national decline. The notion of being British has become acceptable to Celts and edinic minorities as well as the English - indeed such groups get intensely annoyed by the continuing English tendency to try to appropriate its qualities for themselves. Britain is seen to have 'nicer connotations' than England: it has shed its imperialist image and is seen as a force for progress and decency, in contrast to the insularity and conservatism of England. It 'adds up to an inclusive identity', the report found.

Europe, however, scarcely gets a look-in. British people of all backgrounds gave little commumtaire spirit, and most saw it as 'distant and not part of their everyday lives.'

Notes

1. "I? UK - Voices of Our Times" (1999) London: Springpoint;

2. Laura Ashley - a company producing mainly chintzy fabrics;

3. Braveheart - a film loosely based on William Wallace (1274 - 1305), Scottish knight and champion of the independence of Scotland;

4. good crack - talk, gossip and entertainment;

5. shamrock - the national emblem of Ireland: a clover-like plant with diree leaves on each stem;

6. leprechaun - in Irish folklore, a fairy in the shape of a little old man.

Comprehension questions

1. When did Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland vote for devolution from the British government?

2. Why does the author mention Wimbledon and Big Ben? What do they represent?

3. What is Cardiff? What are the capitals of the parts of Great Britain?

4. What does the author mean saying: 'Europe, however, scarcely gets a look-in'?

Exercise 39

Who or what does the author speak about using the following participles?

Reviled disdained obsessed restrained

Published dumped divided shared

Devolved widespread marked respected

Translate the resulting collocations into Russian.