Analyse the different forms of Nationalism that operate within the UK.

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Analyse the different forms of Nationalism that operate within the UK

        

Britain has historically been a unitary state, however the last 30 years seen the revival of nationalism as devolution took place. Up until 1970 nationalist demands were scarcely on the political agenda e.g. both Scotland and Wales had been granted administrative devolution with cabinet level representation and the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru - Scotland and Wales's respective nationalist parties resembled pressure groups with limited political influence. Since 1970 nationalism has exploded as a political issue, since the immense breakthrough in electoral success of both the Welsh and Scottish nationalist parties in the 1970 and 1974 general election. Today the SNP Plaid Cymru are clearly the second largest parties, highlighting the immense support for nationalism in Scotland and Wales.

Forms of nationalism in the UK vary immensely. In Scotland, the North Sea oil was a catalyst for the emergence of Scottish nationalism. In the run-up to 1974 general election, the SNP launched an "It's Scotland's Oil" campaign.  As a result the SNP achieved over 30% of vote and became the second party in Scotland. Scottish nationalism has taken a strong pro-political independence stance. The SNP however, have suspended their official policy of full Scottish independence to cooperate with devolution. The official party in Scotland is undoubtedly the labour party with no prospect of displacement by the SNP; it is therefore argued that the populace are content with the given amount of devolution, curbing demands for full independence. However, nationalism in Scotland remains a substantial as the 1997 referenda in Scotland over devolution produced an emphatic 'yes' result, showing that devolution (and questionably full independence) was in popular demand.

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Wales, unlike Scotland or Northern Ireland is geographically much closer to England. It was formally incorporated into England in 1536 and unlike Scotland or Northern Ireland; Wales shares its legal, criminal justice and education system with England. Therefore nationalism in Wales mainly takes a cultural / patriotic form i.e. preserving the dominant use of the Welsh language. It is therefore the official Plaid Cymru policy - not to campaign for political independence but merely for greater devolution to preserve the culture or language being eroded.  This is why the Welsh are content with a limited version of political devolution ...

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