Does National Identity Have a Place in the

Gone are the days when every house in Britain boasted a photo of the queen, and neighbourhoods flooded into the streets to celebrate VE day shrouded in red, white and blue. It is easy to long for the ‘good old days’, but it is no secret that nationalism is the catalyst of fascism. Is it possible to celebrate our own national identity whilst also welcoming new cultures? Part of progress is accepting change. Clinging onto the idea of ‘being British’ – which is merely a social construct in itself – is ultimately futile in the modern era.

Ironically, the first fish and chip shop was opened in the 1860s by Joseph Malin, an immigrant who based his recipe on traditional Jewish cuisine. Tea, which is now considered the quintessential British drink, was a custom started in China and popularised in Britain by the Portuguese wife of Charles II. The list goes on; so many of the pillars of our cultural identity are adopted as a result of globalisation.

Why are we so intent on preserving something that, in effect, doesn’t exist? Condemning immigration on the grounds of preserving national identity is completely paradoxical.

On the flip side, many of our own national treasures have blossomed when introduced to the international stage. Cricket, perhaps a declining sport in its home nation, has boomed into a cornerstone of Indian culture, industry and entertainment. In 2015, the IPL contributed $160 million to the Indian GDP and is one of the most watched sports leagues in the world. Just as many of our own customs originated elsewhere, a British invention has ended up defining another culture more than our own. Perhaps learning to share, both our land and our culture, could lead to an even more diverse global identity.

In an increasingly globalised world, national identity has diminished in its meaning. As a global culture emerges, the characteristics that once made us British are no longer unique to this small, island nation. However, in the current political climate, this cultural diffusion has caused a national insecurity that has been detrimental to foreign nationals, immigrants and even refugees.

The Guardian reported that “The study, led by the University of Strathclyde, found that 77% of [immigrant] pupils surveyed said they had suffered racism, xenophobia or bullying, though such approaches were often disguised as banter. Of the pupils, 49% said the attacks had become more frequent since the EU referendum in 2016”.

It is clear that the Brexit movement, although only tenuously linked to immigration, has seen a rise in nationalism – and subsequent racism – in this country. National pride has turned toxic, a belief that being born in a certain place gives us more rights than those born elsewhere. Palaeontology has long since proved that humans originated and migrated from Africa some 1.9 million years ago. We are all one people, yet barriers created by political borders pit us against each other. National identity is nothing more than a socio-political construct that constantly changes and grows. In reality, we are all one people with little difference to separate us.

Furthermore, is it possible to strive towards racial equality whilst continuing to bury Britain’s imperialist past? ‘Our island story’, a theme so prevalent in politics today, is a selective tale that leaves out all of Britain’s less palatable histories. With a national identity so intrinsically linked with slavery and colonialism, a need to condemn these wrongs leads us to detach the Britain of the past from the country we live in today. In order to move towards a liberalised and equal modern world, children in school need to be taught Britain’s true role in world history, not a glamourised version. 31% of Brits believe that Islam poses a threat to the British way of life. How can we be protectionist when there is nothing to protect? Our way of life has been moulded from other cultures throughout centuries; the way we view ourselves has changed beyond recognition, and it will undoubtedly change countless times again. How can Islam pose a threat to something that has always been malleable, anyway? Progression is celebrating change, so to resist change is to condemn progression. Increased cultural fluidity creates a more diverse, colourful way of life. Perhaps being introduced to new cultures sparks a fear of something unknown. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t something worth embracing, something which can enhance our experience of the world.

“With 5.6 million Syrians fleeing a war-torn country since 2011, what grants English nationals a greater right to safety and prosperity than our Syrian counterparts?” In 2012, we opened the Olympics with a spectacle: an opening ceremony that celebrated both national pride and international diversity. As well as showcasing Britain as the birthplace of the industrial revolution (and consequently environmental destruction, but that’s a debate for another day…), it featured many national treasures. It was a somewhat harmless display of national identity that also welcomed the competing nations with open arms. Perhaps national pride can coexist with cultural diversity, but is it naïve to assume that everyone can accept new cultures without becoming precious about their own? There will always be those who are not willing to share. It would be idealistic to suggest that we can eradicate long-standing prejudices towards new cultures and people. Inevitably, some will always perceive foreign influences as a threat. However, condemning globalisation on the grounds that it undermines national identity is a contradictory argument. Our national identity has never been set in stone. What gives us the right to freeze it in its tracks? Or, to dictate that this is the best it will ever be? Cultures will always continue to interact with one another, and, in a world of increased interconnectivity, it is time to start considering ourselves not as Brits, but as global citizens. Daisy Forster Graphic & Page Design by Kajal Bains “