Is Nationalism in the United Kingdom progressive or reactionary?

Politics Essay -3- John Nationalism

(60 marks)

It can be argued that nationalism within the UK is, both reactionary and progressive; the reason for this is that within the different parts of the UK, the status of nationalism has elements of both looking to the future, in a progressive and inclusive way; but also to looking to the past, in a regressive way, usually in the hope to revive their historical earlier period. However, the nationalism within these different parts of the UK is usually more so progressive than reactionary, or vice se versa, but it also has elements of reactionary nationalism as well, such as Scotland.

It can be said that Scottish nationalism is dominantly progressive because they are inclusive and look ahead when they think about their nation, which makes it civic nationalism. The Scots therefore celebrate diversity and are tolerant to different values and to ‘culture’ in general, rather than strictly adhering to their own culture. This is because the Scottish feels that they do not really have a true and original Scottish culture, but merely have the traditions, items and foods that have been imported by invading nations. For example the things that we traditionally associate with Scotland are culturally not Scottish at all. For example the kilt, this is an Irish invention that the English initially wiped out; the infamous haggis, which is thought of as being traditionally Scottish, but in fact it is originally French; and the highland games were actually invented by the English.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Scottish nationalism is therefore able to welcome all people and cultures, becoming inclusive. The Scots and the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) are not anti-English but only ask the people who reside within the boarders of Scotland to publicly comply with the Scottish way of life. Scottish nationalism begins and revolves around economics; financially Scotland has the wealth to survive without the English taxes. Essentially this independence can come from the oil fields that were discovered within the Scottish waters in 1964, this made Scotland the most energy rich country within the whole of Europe. Apart from oil, Scotland has other profitable natural resources like 3rd and a half of Europe’s fishing stocks, again in their waters, alongside timber and steel. The economic possibility of independence within Scotland is highly achievable, therefore this reinforces the idea that the Scots are always looking ahead to improve their status as a nation and achieve further independence. This leads to a natural progression towards political nationalism. The SNP argue that Scotland has had a history of being independence since the 1328 Treaty of Northampton. In which the English pledged to forever give up all claims to rule Scotland; and that since the union between the two countries in 1707 Scotland has retained a separate legal, education and banking systems. Scottish political parties, like the SNP, encourage progressive attitudes not only because they have a long term desire to become but also because they have ambitions to be fully inclusive with global organizations like Europe. The SNP latest slogan is ‘Scotland and Europe’; they believe that this would be a very good step for Scotland to take in the future, this again the idea that Scottish nationalism is dominantly progressive.

Although Scottish nationalism is arguably dominantly progressive there are elements that hint that its nationalism is also reactionary which could be the negative effects of Blair’s 1997 devolution. Once Scotland was given devolution, the Scots began to feel that they had been their identity and to fully comprehend it they would have to look back into their heritage and their past to revive what they had essentially been missing, Andrew Marr described this as growing ‘self confidence’. This definitely shows that Scottish nationalism has elements being reactionary.

Welsh nationalism is often seen as reactionary because it is fundamentally cultural, concentrating on ethnicity and origins; therefore constantly looking to the past for progression, which is a paradox within its self. Culture is taken very seriously in Wales and therefore organizations like Plaid Cymru (now Wales’ leading political party) were, for all intents and purposes set up as a “cultural defence organization”, in order to protect Welsh culture. Similarly the Welsh every year have a great gathering called the Eisteddfodd, which is aimed at reliving and reviving Welsh heritage and could therefore be seen as a gathering of one group of people, and excluding everyone else. Therefore becoming exclusive and reactionary; this is further seen after there have been reports of attacks within Wales. English holiday makers and home owners have been attacked for their presence in Wales, which extreme Welsh activists see as a dangerous and as a corrupting force. They feel that the most effective way to preserve Welsh culture is by driving out 500,000 English people within Wales. These extremists passionately believe that because the English are moving into the most affluent Welsh areas, from their well paid ‘English’ jobs and middle class life styles, and are consequently ruining the most traditional and rural villages in Wales. The group that has been linked with such attacks is called ‘Meibion Glendower’, which translates into the sons of Glendower, who was a rebel Prince. This particularly adverse reaction to the English in general, is fundamentally cultural, which leads to the political nationalism because Wales is essentially a socialist nation but has had to endure conservative rule for long periods because of the power vested within the Westminster political core.

Therefore, it can be argued that Welsh nationalism has elements of progressive platforms, on which initiatives like No Top Up Fees and no fees for dental or medical prescriptions have been successful.

N. Ireland Nationalism

Cornish Nationalism

English Nationalism

British Nationalism