The British people: description or denial?

Pittock, M. (2015) The British people: description or denial? In: Mueller, K. (ed.) Scotland 2014 and Beyond-Coming of Age and Loss of Innocence ? Series: Scottish Studies International (39). Peter Lang: Frankfurt, pp. 71-92. ISBN 9783631655719

Abstract

Drawing on nationalist and trauma theory, this essay argues that the continued presentation of Great Britain as a unitary state by its politicians and media is only the latest phase in the central paradox of historic British identity, which was built on the repression of the national memories of its constituent countries. As the present United Kingdom grows ever more fissiparous in the light of the 2014 Scottish referendum and other developments, the inability to recognize the limitations of the unitary British narrative is increasingly-and dangerously-detached from the underlying manifestations of its politics.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pittock, Professor Murray
• Authors: Pittock, M.
• Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General); P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
• Research Group: Scottish Studies Global
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• ISBN: 9783631655719