The Making of English National IdentityWhy is English national identity so enigmatic and so elusive? Why, unlike the Scots, Welsh, Irish and most of continental Europe, do the English find it so difficult to say who they are? The Making of English National Identity is a fascinating exploration of Englishness and what it means to be English. Drawing on historical, sociological and literary theory, Krishan Kumar examines the rise of English nationalism and issues of race and ethnicity from earliest times to the present day. He argues that the long history of the English as an imperial people has, as with other imperial people like the Russians and the Austrians, developed a sense of missionary nationalism which in the interests of unity and empire has necessitated the repression of ordinary expressions of nationalism. Professor Kumar's lively and provocative approach challenges readers to reconsider their pre-conceptions about national identity and who the English really are. |
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Contents
English or British? The question of English national identity | 1 |
Nations and nationalism civic ethnic and imperial | 18 |
When was England? | 39 |
The first English empire? | 60 |
The English nation parent of nationalism? | 89 |
The making of British identity | 121 |
The moment of Englishness | 175 |
The English and the British today | 226 |
Notes | 274 |
| 300 | |
| 353 | |
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Common terms and phrases
argued attempt became become Britain British British identity Britons called Catholic character Church Civil claims clear common concept consciousness continued culture Davies distinct early eighteenth century empire England English nationalism especially ethnic Europe European existence expression fact feeling force France French German Greenfeld groups Henry historians idea imperial important included independent industrial Ireland Irish Isles Italy John kind king Labour land language late later least liberal literature major matter means monarchy national identity nationalist nature nineteenth century Norman noted original Parliament patriotism perhaps period political popular principle Protestant Protestantism question religion religious remained rise rule says Scotland Scots Scottish seems seen sense shared simply social society things thought tradition turn union United Kingdom University Wales Welsh whole writers
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The Making of English National Identity Cambridge Cultural Social Studies |
| Author | Krishan Kumar |
| Editors | Jeffrey C. Alexander, Steven Seidman |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2003 |
| ISBN | 0521777364, 9780521777360 |
| Length | 367 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |