Małgorzata Paprota
A Conservative Britishness: A Critical
Linguistics Analysis of a Conservative
Policy Recommendation Report
Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature 33, 180-190
L IT E R A T U R E 33, 2009, h t t p ://w w w .l s m l l . u m c s .l u b l i n . p l
Małgorzata Paprota
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University,
Lublin, Poland
A Conservative Britishness:
A Critical Linguistics Analysis
of a Conservative Policy Recommendation Report
1. T h e C o n te x t: B r itis h n e s s
H is to r ia n L in d a C o lle y , a n a ly s in g th e f o r g in g o f B r itis h id e n tity a f te r th e E n g lis h - S c o ttis h u n io n o f 1 7 0 7 , c o m p a r e s e ig h te e n th - c e n tu ry G r e a t B r ita in to “th e C h r is tia n d o c trin e o f th e T rin ity : b o th th re e [ E n g la n d , w a l e s a n d S c o tla n d ] a n d o n e , a n d a lto g e th e r s o m e th in g o f a m y s t e r y ” (1 9 9 2 :1 3 ). E v e n n o w n a tio n a lity in th e U K h a s a p e c u lia r s ta tu s : h is to r ic a lly a s ta te n a tio n r a th e r th a n n a tio n sta te , r a r e ly r e f e r r e d to b y its f u ll n a m e ( U n ite d K in g d o m o f G r e a t B rita in a n d N o r th e r n I re la n d ) a n d o fte n b y a m e to n y m y (B rita in ), th e c o u n try is u s u a lly h e ld to c o m p r is e f o u r 1 “n a t i v e ” n a tio n s to w h ic h , a c c o r d in g to 2 0 0 1 c e n s u s , its p e o p le c la im v a r y in g d e g r e e s o f a lle g ia n c e , w ith 49 p e r c e n t r e je c tin g th e la b e l B r itis h a l to g e th e r 2. T h is is f u rth e r
1 The usual number of nationalities is four - English, Scottish, Welsh and (Northern) Irish, though Peter J. Taylor (2001:128) gives ways of conceptualising the “native” population of the UK as up to seven nations.
2 In the 2001 census, 31 per cent Britons identified as “only British” and 15 per cent chose a combined identification - “British and English / Scottish / Welsh / other”.
c o m p lic a te d b y th e U K 's im p e r ia l p a s t, w h e n - f o r a tim e - e v e r y f o u r th p e r s o n in th e w o rld w a s a B r itis h s u b je c t, a n d its m u ltic u ltu ra l p r e s e n t, w ith a r o u n d 8 p e r c e n t o f B r itis h p o p u la tio n h a ilin g f ro m th e f o rm e r C o m m o n w e a lth c o u n trie s . N o w o n d e r , th e n , th a t B r itis h n e s s is a c o m p le x a n d c o n te s te d n o tio n , c o n s ta n tly n e g o tia te d b y th e B ritis h p e o p le , s c h o la r s 3 a n d p o litic ia n s 4.
In 2 0 0 7 , a s c o m m is s io n e d b y th e C o n s e r v a tiv e le a d e r D a v id C a m e ro n , C o n s e r v a tiv e P o lic y R e v ie w g r o u p s p r o d u c e d a s e rie s o f r e p o r ts o n p iv o ta l is s u e s in B r itis h life a n d p o litic s to b e c o n s id e r e d b y C o n s e r v a tiv e s in th e ir n e x t e l e c tio n m a n if e s to . T h e r e p o r t o n n a tio n a l s e c u rity , a n d s p e c if ic a lly its s e c tio n p u b lis h e d in J a n u a r y a s
Uniting
the Country
- a n in te r im r e p o r t o n s o c ia l c o h e s io n , is o f p a r tic u la r im p o r ta n c e h e r e s in c e it e x p lic itly a d d r e s s e s th e q u e s tio n o f n a tio n a l id e n tity in a m u ltic u ltu r a l B rita in , f o c u s in g o n th e M u s lim m in o rity . W h ile th e te rm “ B r itis h M u s l im ” c le a r ly d e n o te s a r e lig io u s , n o t a n e th n ic m in o rity , it h a s in p r a c tic e b e c o m e s h o r th a n d f o r B r ito n s o f S o u th A s ia n o rig in , m o s tly d e s c e n d in g f ro m B a n g la d e s h i a n d P a k is ta n i im m ig r a n ts . A c c o r d in g to th e 2 0 0 1 c e n s u s , th e y c o m p ris e a b o u t a h a l f o f th e U K 's e th n ic m in o r ity p o p u la tio n . T h e is s u e o f th e n a tio n a l a lle g ia n c e o f th is g ro u p c a m e to th e fo re f o llo w in g th e 2 0 0 5 L o n d o n U n d e r g r o u n d te r r o r is t a tta c k s p e r p e tra te d b y B r itis h -b o r n M u s lim s . T h e in te r im r e p o r t lo o k s a t f a c to r s im p e d in g th e in te g r a tio n o f B r itis h M u s lim s in to th e m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity a n d s e ts o u t w h a t it c a lls a “s h a r e d B r itis h a g e n d a ” (1 3 2 -1 3 3 ) w h ic h c o u ld fo rm th e b a s is fo r s u c h in te g ra tio n .T h e a im o f th is p a p e r is to a tte m p t a n a n a ly s is , u s in g th e to o ls o f C r itic a l D is c o u rs e A n a ly s is , o f th e w a y s B r itis h n e s s o r B r itis h id e n tity is c o n s tru c te d a n d s itu a te d in th e r e p o rt. W h ile it is u n u s u a l to lim it a n a n a ly s is to a s in g le te x t, th e im p o r t o f th is d o c u m e n t is s u b s ta n tia l: it r e c e iv e d c o n s id e r a b le p u b lic ity a n d w a s d is c u s s e d in a ll B ritis h q u a l ity n e w s p a p e r s a n d s o m e ta b lo id s , th u s lik e ly g a in in g w id e
3 See Colley 1992, Morley and Robbins 2001
4 Note, for instance, Tony Blair's famous Cool Britannia speech, discussed among others in Morley and Robbins 2001
r e a d e r s h ip ; it w a s lik e ly to in f lu e n c e th e p o lic y o f a m a jo r U K p a rty a n d p o s s ib ly th e n e x t B r itis h g o v e r n m e n t; it is in m a rk e d c o n tra s t to C o n s e r v a tiv e d is c o u r s e o f 1 9 8 0 s .5 S e le c te d le x ic o - g r a m m a tic a l f u n c tio n s w ill b e a n a ly s e d a lo n g th e lin e s s u g g e s te d b y B a rk e r a n d G a la s iń s k i (2 0 0 1 :6 4 -8 2 ) to s h o w th a t B r itis h n e s s in th e r e p o r t is p o s itiv e ly c h a rg e d ; v a g u e ; in c lu s iv e a n d in d e p e n d e n t o f e th n ic o rig in ; o v e r la p p in g w ith C o n s e r v a tiv e v a lu e s a n d id e a s .
2. P r o n o u n s a n d P ro c e s s e s
A s a p o lic y r e c o m m e n d a tio n r e p o rt, th e te x t f o llo w s th e g e n r e c o n v e n tio n s , w h e r e d e s c r ip tio n s o f th e (p ro b le m a tic ) s ta tu s q u o in te r w o v e n w ith u tte r a n c e s o f in f o r m a n ts a n d f o llo w e d o r in te r s p e r s e d b y p o lic y r e c o m m e n d a tio n s o f d e o n tic m o d a lity , a n d is w r itte n in th e f irs t p e r s o n p lu ra l. T h u s , a k e y p ro n o u n is w e / u s / our. O u t o f its 2 3 4 o c c u r re n c e s , a b o u t 3 0 a r e u n a m b ig u o u s ly a ttr ib u ta b le to th e P o lic y G ro u p th a t a u th o re d th e re p o rt, c o m p ris in g w h a t F a ir c lo u g h (1 9 8 9 :1 2 7 ) te rm s e x c lu s iv e we: “w e h a v e ta k e n e v id e n c e f ro m a w id e r a n g e o f i n d iv i d u a ls ” (1 0 9 ), “A r e s e a r c h e r in th e a r e a to ld u s ” (1 2 3 ); a s m a ll n u m b e r a r e a m b ig u o u s , a s in “te rr o r is m h a s m a d e u s c o n s c io u s o f o u r v u ln e r a b ilit y ” (1 0 3 ); w h ile a v a s t m a jo r ity o f th e r e s t c a n b e c la s s if ie d a s in c lu s iv e w e th a t in c lu d e s th e a d d r e s s e e : “i f w e w is h to r e m a in a lib e r a l s o c ie t y ” (1 0 3 ), “w e n e e d to r e b u ild B r iti s h n e s s ” (1 3 4 ), “b u ild in g a s o lid c o n s e n s u s . . . a b o u t o u r id e n tity a n d v a l u e s a s B r itis h c itiz e n s ” (1 0 8 ). It s h o u ld b e n o te d th a t th e p ro n o u n w e is n o t u s e d to r e f e r to th e ( e x p lic itly n a m e d ) m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity , w h ic h is w r itte n a b o u t in th e th ir d p e rs o n s in g u la r. 15 (a g a in e x c lu s iv e ) in s ta n c e s o f w e c o m e f ro m th e d ire c t q u o ta tio n s fro m (B r itis h M u s lim ) in f o r m a n ts a n d 24 a r e re la te d to o th e r e n titie s a lto g e th e r. T h e m o s t f re q u e n t r e f e r e n t o f th e y is B r itis h M u s lim s , m o s tly a s “ o r d in a r y ” (103) M u s lim s , o c c a s io n a lly a s r a d ic a l o r e x tr e m is t M u s lim s . O n o n e s o le o c c a s io n , th e a d je c tiv e B r itis h w ith o u t a f u rth e r m o d if ie r, f irm ly a s s o c ia te d w ith th e p ro n o u n we, d e n o te s a M u s lim : “b y a r r a n g in g fo r
th e m to ta k e a B r itis h h u s b a n d o r w i f e ” (1 1 9 ); th is is in th e c o n te x t o f a B a n g la d e s h i o r P a k is ta n i n a tio n a l m a rr y in g a B r itis h M u s lim .
T h is p r o p o r tio n o f p r o n o u n s , w ith th e p r im a r y d iv is io n b e tw e e n
we
a n d
they
a n d w ith s u c h a p le n itu d e o f in c lu s iv ewe
, s e e m s to in d ic a te th a t th e p r o d u c e r s o f th e r e p o r t - a C o n s e r v a tiv e p o lic y g r o u p - p o s itio n th e m s e lv e s a s c a p a b le a n d e n title d to a r tic u la te th e B r itis h a g e n d a a n d id e n tity fo r a n d o n b e h a lf o f th e B r itis h p e o p le . A s th e o b je c t o f sc ru tin y , B r itis h M u s lim s a r e s in g le d o u t a s a d is tin c t g r o u p 6, p a r tly in o p p o s itio n to w h ic h B r itis h n e s s is d e fin e d , b u t a r e n o t o n p r in c ip le b a r r e d f ro m “e n te r in g th e m a in s tr e a m ” (137) o f B ritis h so c ie ty .A b r i e f a n a ly s is o f tr a n s itiv ity a s p r o p o s e d , a f te r H a llid a y , b y B a r k e r a n d G a la s in s k i (2 0 0 1 :7 0 -7 3 ) r e v e a ls th a t th e d o c u m e n t is r e p le te w ith n o m in a lis a tio n s a n d p a s s iv is a tio n s , p ro b le m a tis in g th e is s u e o f a g e n c y . O n e p u r p o s e th e y o f te n s e rv e is to a v o id o r m itig a te c r itic is m o f s o m e M u s lim p r a c tic e s d e e m e d le s s c o m p a tib le w ith W e s te rn life s ty le :
The recent controversy unleashed in the media over the wearing of the veil has heightened the political temperature without resolving anything. (...) In the majority community, it showed increased apprehensiveness about the extent to which values are shared across community lines. Women displayed particular sensitivity, not just because they felt that the veil limited the prospects of individual Muslim women by isolating them (106)
I n th e s e c o n d s e n te n c e , w h a t w o u ld h a v e b e e n th e s u b je c t (the m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity ) e x p e r ie n c in g a n e m o tio n (w a s s c a r e d o r w o rrie d ) b e c o m e s a n e n v ir o n m e n t w h e r e a p h e n o m e n o n c a n b e p e r c e iv e d ; th e lin k b e tw e e n th e s e n s e r a n d th e p h e n o m e n o n is th u s w e a k e n e d . W h a t w o u ld h a v e b e e n th e s u b je c t in th e s e c o n d c la u s e ( c o m m u n itie s w h o d o o r d o n o t s h a re th e u n d e f in e d b u t p r e s u p p o s e d B r itis h v a lu e s ) a g a in b e c o m e s a n e n v iro n m e n t, m a k in g th e c h a rg e a g a in s t s a id c o m m u n itie s le s s d ire c t. In th e th ir d s e n te n c e , th e n o u n 6 The report does acknowledge explicitly on several occasions that British Muslims do not form one homogeneous block but differ with respect to numerous factors, such as ethnicity, social class, and aims and aspirations; nonetheless, British Muslims is the most common form of reference.
“v e i l ” c h o s e n a s th e s u b je c t a n d a g e n t r e p la c e s th e p o s s ib le p h r a s e s “a w o m a n 's p e r s o n a l c h o ic e to w e a r a v e i l ” o r th e “p r e s s u r e a M u s lim c o m m u n ity e x e r ts o n a w o m a n to w e a r a v e i l ” . T h o s e e x a m p le a lte r n a tiv e s im p ly r a th e r m o r e a g e n c y (a n d f a c to rs a t w o rk ) th a n a n o u n d e n o tin g a n e x te r n a l a n d in a n im a te o b je c t, a n d s o a g r e a te r d is ta n c e , p o s s ib ly in v o lv in g v o litio n , b e tw e e n n o n - M u s lim a n d M u s lim B r itis h w o m e n . N o ta b ly , th is s tr a te g y is n o t a p p lie d to b e h a v io u r s o r b o d ie s h e ld to b e in c o m p a tib le (ra th e r th a n le s s c o m p a tib le ) o r h o s tile to p r e s u p p o s e d B r itis h v a lu e s . A ttr ib u tio n o f r e s p o n s ib ility in th o s e c a s e s is c le a r a n d u n a m b ig u o u s :
In some instances [propagators of political Islam] seek to overthrow the institutions of democracy to institute a state governed by Sharia law. (103) Muslim community organisations, of which there are many that do important social work, are nevertheless not offering the leadership they should at the top level. (103)
Traditional patterns of authority do not foster discussion. (107)
It m a y b e u n d e r s to o d th e r e f o r e th a t o n e w a y in w h ic h n o m in a lis a tio n s a n d p a s s iv is a tio n s w o r k is to d ra w th e b o u n d a r ie s o f a B r itis h id e n tity - s p e c if ic a lly to in c re a s e , a s f a r a s p o s s ib le , th e in c lu s iv ity o f th e n o tio n .
T h e o th e r f r e q u e n t c o n te x t fo r n o m in a lis a tio n s a n d p a s s iv is a tio n s , o f te n c o m b in e d w ith o v e rw o rd in g , is to s id e s te p o r a l le v ia te c ritic is m o f a c tio n s o r p h e n o m e n a o c c u r rin g in w h a t is te rm e d th e “m a in s tr e a m ” (107) B r itis h so c ie ty , o r to d im in is h its r e s p o n s ib ility f o r a c tio n s :
We hear much at present about the defects of our past: for instance the - undoubted - blemishes in our colonial record and our participation in the slave trade. Past wrongs should not be hidden. They should be known about and discussed. (132-133)
'T h e d e f e c ts o f o u r p a s t” , “b le m is h e s ” , a n d “w r o n g s ” , th o u g h a c k n o w le d g e d , r e m a in a g e n tle s s . T h e c h o ic e o f “w e h e a r [. . .] a b o u t” a s th e in tr o d u c to ry p h ra s e c a n b e v ie w e d a s d is ta n c in g th e
s p e a k e r/w r ite r fro m w h a t fo llo w s , c r e a tin g a s s o c ia tio n s w ith h e a r s a y e v id e n c e .
A c e r ta in a s y m m e tr y o f in v o lv e m e n t a n d r e s p o n s ib ility is o b s c u re d b y n o m in a lis a tio n s in th e e x a m p le b e lo w :
[T]here is a new social bargain to be struck: a more explicit acceptance on the part of the majority community of the importance of helping minorities to integrate to be matched by minorities’ willingness to equip themselves to be active participants in the general life of their new country. (107)
I f s o m e o f th e n o u n s w e r e e x p r e s s e d a s v e rb s , th e m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity (w h o w ill m o re e x p lic itly a c c e p t th a t h e lp in g m in o r itie s in te g r a te is im p o rta n t) w o u ld b e le s s b u r d e n e d th a n th e m in o r itie s (w h o w ill w a n t to p r e p a re to a c tiv e ly p a r tic ip a te in g e n e r a l life in th e ir n e w c o u n try ). T h e le v e l o f v e r b o s ity a n d th e n o n - m a te r ia l s ta tu s o f m o s t a c tio n s s e rio u s ly h in d e r th e v e r y u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e s e n te n c e a n d d e b ilita te th e v a lid ity o f th e p r o p o s itio n e x p re s s e d .
E a s ie r to re a d , b u t e v e n m o r e a s y m m e tric a l, is th e f o llo w in g p a ir o f s e n te n c e s :
There was a perception among a number of our Muslim witnesses of prejudice against Muslims in the job market. (. . .)
However, other Muslim witnesses said that Muslims were creating difficulties for themselves. (124)
“P r e ju d ic e ” in th e f irs t s e n te n c e is n o t o n ly d e p r iv e d o f its c a rrie rs , it is a ls o r e le g a te d to a m e n ta l s p a c e (th e re e x is ts p e r c e p tio n o f p r e ju d ic e ), th e e n v ir o n m e n t o f w h ic h is f u r th e r r e s tr ic te d to a n u m b e r o f in d iv id u a ls . T h o u g h th r e e e x a m p le s f o llo w th e s e n te n c e , it is d if fic u lt n o t to s e e it a s u n d e r m in in g th e ir m e s s a g e . T h e s e c o n d s e n te n c e , in c o n tra s t, s h o w s c le a r a ttr ib u tio n o f a g e n c y in a m a te r ia l p r o c e s s a n d a p p o r tio n s th e b la m e in a n u n a m b ig u o u s w a y (M u s lim s th e m s e lv e s a r e to b la m e r a th e r th a n th e m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity ). T h is w a y o f d e s c r ib in g m e m b e r s a n d n o n - m e m b e r s o f a g ro u p is c o n s is te n t w ith v a n D ijk 's id e o lo g ic a l s q u a re :
Emphasise our good properties/actions Emphasise their bad properties/actions Mitigate our bad properties/actions
Mitigate their good properties/actions (1998:33)
B y d o w n p la y in g s o m e o f th e le s s c o m m e n d a b le a c tiv itie s o r a ttitu d e s o n th e p a rt o f th e m a jo r ity c o m m u n ity , n o m in a lis a tio n s a n d p a s s iv is a tio n s w o r k to p r e s e rv e , a s f a r a s p o s s ib le , th e o v e r a ll p o s itiv e c o n n o ta tio n s o f B r itis h n e s s .
3. L e x ic a l ite m s
It is in th e c h o ic e o f v o c a b u la r y th a t th o s e p o s itiv e c o n n o ta tio n s o f B r itis h n e s s a re m o s t e v id e n t. A c o u n t o f th e c o llo c a te s o f “ B r iti s h ” y ie ld s 8 3 o c c u r re n c e s , f e w o f w h ic h re c u r. In f o u r c a s e s , “B r itis h M u s l im s ” (2 6 7), 'B r itis h c i tiz e n s ” (6), “B r itis h s o c ie t y ” (5), “B ritis h h i s t o r y ” (3), “ B r itis h g e o g r a p h y ” (1), th e r e f e r e n t c a n b e d e f in e d b y o s te n s io n . O th e r r e la tiv e ly f re q u e n t c o llo c a te s - “ B r itis h a g e n d a ” (5), “B r itis h v a l u e s ” (2), “ B ritis h b e l ie f s ” (2) a n d a r g u a b ly “B r itis h id e n tity ” (5) - d o n o t h a v e f ix e d m e a n in g s . T h e s e c a n to s o m e e x te n t b e s u p p lie d b y a n a ly s in g r e la tio n s o f e q u iv a le n c e a n d s y n o n y m y o r h y p o n y m y . N e a r- s y n o n y m o u s e x p r e s s io n s a re “c o m m o n n a tio n a l id e n tity ” (1 3 2 ); “w h a t th is s o c ie ty s ta n d s f o r ” (1 0 5 ); a n d fu rth e r: “to le r a n t a n d lib e r a l d e m o c r a c y ” (1 0 5 ); “d e m o c r a tic v a l u e s ” (1 0 3 , 104, 115, 118); “d e m o c r a tic p r in c ip le s : (1 3 2 ); “tr a d itio n a l lib e r tie s ” (1 17); “ lib e ra l tr a d itio n s o f th e c o u n t r y ” (118); o p p o r tu n itie s fo r p e rs o n a l d e v e lo p m e n t [fo r w o m e n ] (1 1 5 ); g e n d e r e q u a lity (1 2 7 -8 ); k e e p in g r e lig io n in th e p riv a te s p h e r e (1 1 7 ); in te g r a tio n (1 0 3 -1 0 5 ); a c c e p ta b ility o f m u ltip le id e n titie s (115); in in f o rm a n t u tte ra n c e s : “o p p o r tu n ity to a c h ie v e [b a la n c e b e tw e e n id e n titi e s ] ” (1 1 5 ); “h a v in g th e f re e d o m to d e c id e w h a t I d o in l i f e ” (1 15); in th e s e c tio n c o n c e r n e d e x p lic itly w ith d e f in in g a s h a r e d B ritis h a g e n d a : “th e ru le o f la w a n d fre e s p e e c h ” ; “k n o w le d g e o f o u r h is t o r y a n d g e o g r a p h y ” ; “th e s y m b o lis m o f th e M o th e r o f P a r lia m e n ts ” ; “th e [s tru g g le to w in ] f re e d o m s w e e n jo y t o d a y ” ; “th e c e n tr a l r o le B r itis h h is t o r y h a s p la y e d in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e p r in c ip le s m o d e rn d e m o c r a c ie s a re 7 In this paragraph the number in brackets denotes the frequency of the word rather than the page number.
g o v e r n e d b y ” ; “c e le b r a tin g Q u e e n 's b ir th d a y ” ; fin a lly , th e E n g lis h la n g u a g e ( 1 3 2 -1 3 3 ).
T h e r e a r e f e w e x p lic it te x t a n to n y m s : m u ltic u ltu r a lis m u n d e r s to o d a s f o s te r in g a n d o v e r p la y in g d iffe re n c e , th u s h in d e rin g in te g r a tio n (1 0 3 , 1 33); “a lie n [n o n -d e m o c ra tic ] p o litic a l b e l ie f s ” (1 1 7 ); r e lig io u s e x tre m is m (1 0 3 , 1 3 3 ); r a c is m (1 0 8 , 1 2 7 ). O th e r f a c to rs w o rk in g to th e d e tr im e n t o f B r itis h v a lu e s a r e p r a c tic e s p r e s e n t in th e M u s lim c o m m u n itie s th a t d o n o t a c c o r d w ith th e W e s te rn w a y o f life : fo rc e d m a rr ia g e s ; th e u n e q u a l a c c e s s to c itiz e n r ig h ts fo r w o m e n (1 0 4 , 128); th e o c r a c y ; s tr ic t Is la m ic la w (1 0 5 ); a s w e ll a s w h a t c o u ld b e c a lle d f o r c e s o f m o d e rn ity : “s o c ia l lib e r a lis a tio n ; d e c lin e in r e lig io u s o b s e rv a n c e ; c o n tin u in g im m ig r a tio n ” (1 3 2 ); fin a lly , “ d e v o lu tio n o f p o w e r a n d its im p a c t o n E n g la n d s p e c if ic a ll y ” (1 3 2 ).
T h is s e t o f d a ta le n d s i ts e lf to th e fo llo w in g c o m m e n ts .
F irs tly , it is e v id e n t th a t (p o s tu la te d ) B r itis h n e s s is s e e n a s p o s itiv e ly c h a rg e d a n d d e s ira b le ; th is is a c h ie v e d b y a n u m b e r o f le x ic o - g r a m m a tic a l c h o ic e s .
S e c o n d ly , m a n y o f th e c o n c e p ts th a t f ill o r d e fin e B r itis h n e s s in in f o r m a n t u tte r a n c e s , e s p e c ia lly th o s e r e la te d to d e m o c ra c y , lib e rtie s , p e r s o n a l c h o ic e o r o p p o r tu n itie s fo r s e lf - r e a lis a tio n , w o u ld n o t lo o k o u t o f p la c e a n y w h e re in th e W e s te rn w o rld . T h is n o n - s p e c if ic ity is c o n s is te n t w ith W o d a k e t a l's p o in ts o n v a g u e n e s s in a r tic u la tin g n a tio n a l id e n tity (1 9 9 9 :3 6 -4 0 ) , th o u g h in th e r e p o r t it is a c k n o w le d g e d s p e c if ic a lly o n o n e o c c a s io n o n ly . In s te a d , th e U K 's s p e c ia l s ta tu s is p r e s u p p o s e d a n d j u s t i f i e d w ith r e c o u rs e to its g e o g r a p h y a n d h isto ry .
T h ird ly , a tr e n d e v id e n t in th e n e g o tia te d m e a n in g o f B r itis h n e s s is th e d o w n p la y in g o f d if fe r e n tia tin g e le m e n ts . O n e is re lig io n , s p e c if ic a lly Isla m ; p la c in g r e lig io n in th e p u b lic s p h e r e is e x p lic itly d e n o te d u n - B ritis h . F u rth e r, m u ltic u ltu r a lis m (in te rp r e te d a s th e o v e r p la y in g o f d iffe re n c e ) is m e n tio n e d a s o n e f a c to r th a t a d v e r s e ly im p a c ts o n B r itis h n e s s . T h e n e e d fo r in te g r a tio n is s tr e s s e d , b u t in te re s tin g ly , th e p r o p o s e d b a s is fo r in te g r a tio n is “o u r s h a re d p a s t” (1 0 4 ), w h ic h is q u ite lik e ly d iv is iv e g iv e n th e h is t o r y o f B r itis h im p e r ia l p r e s e n c e in S o u th A s ia . D o w n p la y in g (in tra -g ro u p ) d if f e r e n c e s is a ls o e v id e n t w ith r e s p e c t to d e v o lu tio n o f p o w e r. T h is
c a u s e d th e E n g lis h , “w h o fo r lo n g b a r e ly d is tin g u is h e d b e tw e e n th e ir E n g lis h n e s s a n d th e ir B r itis h id e n tity , to r e a c t ” (1 3 2 ), p r e s u m a b ly b y r e je c tin g B r itis h n e s s in f a v o u r o f E n g lis h n e s s . D e v o lu tio n in its p r e s e n t fo rm , w h ic h is to s o m e e x te n t c o n s titu te s a n a c k n o w le d g m e n t o f in tr a -U K d iffe re n c e s , is th u s d e e m e d u n f a v o u r a b le to a B r itis h id e n tity ; th is , a g a in , is c o n s is te n t w ith W o d a k e t a l.'s p o in ts o n b lu r r in g in tr a - g r o u p d is tin c tio n s in f a v o u r o f a n o v e r a rc h in g g r o u p id e n tity (1 9 9 9 :4 ).
F o u rth ly , i f “ [n ]a tio n a l id e n tity is a fo rm o f im a g in a tiv e id e n tif ic a tio n w ith th e s y m b o ls a n d d is c o u r s e s o f th e n a t io n - s ta t e ” (B a rk e r a n d G a la s in s k i 2 0 0 1 :1 2 4 ) , th e te x t d o e s o f f e r s o m e s u c h s y m b o ls a n d p o s its s u c h a ritu a l. O n e is th e m y th o f th e p a r lia m e n ta r y tr a d itio n a n d o f B r ita in / E n g la n d a s th e b ir th p la c e o f c iv ic lib e rtie s . B y w a y o f ritu a l, Q u e e n 's b ir th d a y is p r o p o s e d a s a n a tio n a l h o lid a y .
F ifth ly , th e p e r f o r m a tiv e a s p e c t o f id e n tity is e v id e n t in s o m e o f th e la b e ls : th e r e is a B r itis h a g e n d a ; B r itis h n e s s is c h o o s in g - y o u r id e n tity ; B r itis h n e s s is p a r tic ip a tin g - in th e r itu a ls : c e le b ra tin g Q u e e n 's B irth d a y ; k n o w in g a n d r e - te llin g th e h isto ry . T h is p o in ts to a n o n - e s s e n tia lis t r e a d in g o f B r itis h n e s s , i f o n ly p a r tic ip a tio n is n o t r e s tric te d .
S ix th ly , b o th th e f o r e g r o u n d e d a n d im p lic it e le m e n ts o f B r itis h id e n tity s e e m s itu a te d fir m ly w ith in th e v o c a b u la r y o f in d iv id u a lis tic f r e e - m a r k e t tr a d itio n o f C a p ita lis m , w ith f re e d o m o f e n te r p ris e e v id e n t a m o n g s t th e m a n y la b e ls a v a ila b le . T h is is c o n s is te n t w ith C o n s e r v a tiv e p r io ritie s in th a t r e s p e c t. F u rth e r, th e a s p e c t o f E n g lis h / B r itis h h is to r y d e e m e d p a r tic u la rly w o rth y o f c o m m e m o r a tio n is th e p a r lia m e n ta r y a n d lib e r ta r ia n tra d itio n , o n e c h e r is h e d b y C o n s e r v a tiv e s .8 A lth o u g h th e n e e d to in tr o d u c e a w id e r th a n E n g lis h p e r s p e c tiv e o n h is to r y a s ta u g h t in s c h o o ls is a c k n o w le d g e d , n o ta b ly a b s e n t is, a m o n g o th e rs , a n y m e n tio n o f th e w e lf a r e s ta te . I t th u s a p p e a r s th a t B r itis h id e n tity in th e in te rim r e p o r t b y th e C o n s e r v a tiv e
8 Lynch names the following as associated with British Conservatism: “individual liberty, tolerance, sincerity and the idea of the gentleman, property rights, permiamentary sovereignty and parochialism.” (1999:3-4)
P o lic y G ro u p o n N a tio n a l a n d I n te r n a tio n a l S e c u r ity la rg e ly o v e rla p s w ith th e v a lu e s a n d p r io r itie s o f th e C o n s e r v a tiv e party .
4. C o n c lu d in g r e m a rk s
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th e re p o rt, le t a lo n e th e v is io n o f B r itis h id e n tity e v id e n t in it, w e r e d e c la re d n o t to b e b in d in g fo r th e C o n s e r v a tiv e le a d e rs h ip . Y et, s o m e o f its p r o p o s itio n s w e r e w e lc o m e d a c r o s s th e p o litic a l s p e c tr u m 9. T h is m a y h a v e b e e n b e c a u s e th is C o n s e r v a tiv e v o ic e is m u c h d if fe r e n t f ro m th a t d e s c r ib e d b y S m ith (1 9 9 4 :1 0 5 -1 1 0 ), c o n f r o n ta tio n a l, e s s e n tia lis t, c h a r a c te r is e d b y c o v e rt, i f n o t o v e rt r a c is m . D e s p ite o c c a s io n a l te n s io n in d is c o u rs e , a s w ith p r a c tic e s le s s r a th e r th a n in c o m p a tib le w ith w e s t e r n o n e s , th e re p o r t is e x p lic itly o p e n w ith r e s p e c t to d if f e r e n c e s o f re lig io n o r e th n ic ity . R e s id u a l m e ta p h o r s o f b a ttle lin g e r in th is r e p o rt, b u t th e r a n k s a r e n o t a s c lo s e a s th e y u s e d to b e . N o r is th e o p p o n e n t th e s a m e : v io le n t I s la m is ts a re d e n o u n c e d a lo n g s id e a n d lik e th e n o to r io u s ly r a c is t B r itis h N a tio n a l P arty . O p p o rtu n itie s , c h o ic e a n d f re e d o m o f p a r tic ip a tio n in th e p u b lic s p h e re fo r w o m e n a r e e x p lic itly s ta te d a s a c o n d itio n o f in te g ra tio n . w h a t r e m a in s p ro b le m a tic , th o u g h e x p lic a b le i f o n e r e m e m b e r s th a t f r a m in g n a tio n a l id e n tity is a b o u t d r a w in g th e lin e s, is th e p r a c tic a l id e n tif ic a tio n o f B r itis h n e s s w ith th e C o n s e r v a tiv e a g e n d a : th is d e e m s v a l u e s n o t in c lu d e d in th a t a g e n d a n o n - o r a t le a s t le s s B ritis h .
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