These Englands: or where does devolution leave the English?

Bryant, CGA

Abstract

Devolution to Scotland and Wales has not yet led to popular demand for a new constitutional settlement for England, but it has led to renewed debate about who the English are. One reason why the English find this a difficult question is that there is more than one construction of England with which to engage. This paper distinguishes four constructions, each with its distinctive orientation to time and place: Anglo-British England, Little England, English England and Cosmopolitan England. Each has its light and dark sides. Each also enjoys considerable currency, but none has an exclusive appeal. Cosmopolitan England may be thought to constitute the future, but the uneven cosmopolitanisation of the regions will continue to complicate the collective representation of England.

Citation

Bryant, C. (2003). These Englands: or where does devolution leave the English?. Nations and Nationalism, 9(3), 393-412. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8219.00103

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2003
• Deposit Date: Jan 21, 2009
• Journal: Nations and Nationalism
• Print ISSN: 1354-5078
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 393-412
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8219.00103
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1469-8219.00103