University of Oradea Faculty of History,

International Relations, Political Sciences

and Communication Sciences
Department of European Studies and
International Relations
Master European Studies Discipline:
Linguistic Diversity and European Identity
Course holder: Prof. Dana Pantea
Second Year, First Semester
National identity in Great Britain
Student: Puie Cristian George
Date: June 2016

Introduciton
National identity is one's identity or sense of belonging to one state or to one nation1. It is the
sense of a nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture, language
and politics National identity may refer to the subjective feeling one shares with a group of people
about a nation, regardless of one's legal citizenship status 2. National identity is viewed in
psychological terms as "an awareness of difference", a "feeling and recognition of 'we' and 'they'".
The expression of one's national identity seen in a positive light is which is characterized by
national pride and positive emotion of love for one's country.3

The concept of identity has both personal and social perspectives but,
irrespective of focus, each is concerned with categorisation and assumptions of
similarity and difference. Social identity relates to the links that exist between
people and places, the ideas and practices that align individuals to one social
group as opposed to another and the feeling of acceptance and belonging which
comes from such allegiance.

A Brief History of The United Kingdom

1 Ashmore, Richard; Jussim, Lee; Wilder, David (2001). Social Identity, Intergroup Conflict, and Conflict
Reduction. USA: Oxford University Press. pp. 7475. ISBN 0198031432.

2 Definition of National Identity in English". Oxford Dictionaries.

3 Lee, Yoonmi (2012). Modern Education, Textbooks, and the Image of the Nation: Politics and
Modernization and Nationalism in Korean Education. Routledge. p. 29. ISBN 9781136600791.

The United Kingdom, also known as Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, is a European region with a long and storied history. The first modern humans (Homo
sapiens) arrived in the region during the Ice Age (about 35,000 to 10,000 years ago), when the
sea levels were lower and Britain was connected to the European mainland. It is these people
who built the ancient megalithic monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury.
Between 1,500 and 500 BCE, Celtic tribes migrated from Central Europe and France to Britain
and mixed with the indigenous inhabitants, creating a new culture slightly distinct from the
Continental Celtic one. This came to be known as the Bronze Age.
The Romans controlled most of present-day England and Wales, and founded a large number of
cities that still exist today. London, York, St Albans, Bath, Exeter, Lincoln, Leicester, Worcester,
Gloucester, Chichester, Winchester, Colchester, Manchester, Chester, and Lancaster were all
Roman towns, as were all the cities with names now ending in -chester, -cester or -caster, which
derive from the Latin word castrum, meaning "fortification.4

The Culture of The United Kingdom

The social structure of Britain acted as the main cultural role all through the history of British
culture. In effect, the history of the country, the cultures of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and
England have their own protected and unique traditions and symbolism 5.
The United Kingdom was formed as a Protestant Christian country6. Other religions practiced in
the country include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism and Sikhism.
English is the official language and other existing languages in the country are Cornish, French,
Irish, Gaelic, Scottish, German, Welsh, British Sign Language and etc.
Football is the national sport of the country, which started in England. Other major sports
originated in the country are badminton, billiards, boxing, curling, cricket, field hockey, golf, tennis,
rugby, snooker, and squash.
In 20th century, English novel expand much greater range and terribly improved by immigrant
writers and up to now the leading English literary form still continues. Famous novelists are Arthur
Conan Doyle, C. S. Lewis, D. H. Lawrence, George Orwell, Ian Fleming, J. K. Rowling, J. R. R.

4 http://www.studycountry.com/guide/GB-history.htm
5 http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/uk.htm
6 International Religious Freedom Report 2006. "International Religious Freedom Report 2006". U.S.
Department of State. Retrieved 25 November 2011.

Tolkien, Mary Shelley, Salman Rushdie and Virginia Woolf. Significant writers include Alexander
Pope, Alfred Tennyson, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Milton, Philip Larkin,
Rudyard Kipling, T. S. Eliot and Ted Hughes.7

The Languages spoken in The United Kingdom

The official language of the country is English8 and spoken by over 90% of the countrys
population. It is also spoken in Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, China, Japan, Norway,
Mexico, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, USA, Zimbabwe, and among others. French and
German are usually trained as the second languages in Scotland and England. Students are
required to learn a second language to some level in England9 (up to 14 years old) and Scotland
(up to 16 years old).
The following are the Celtic languages in use in the country:

Welsh Cymraeg is the alternative name and spoken in Canada and Argentina. More

than 20% of the populace of Wales can speak Welsh according to census in 2001. Probable
over 200,000 Welsh speakers settle in England.
Gaelic, Scottish The alternative names are Albannach Gaidhlig, Gidhlig, Gaelic, Erse

and Scots Gaelic and spoken in USA, Canada and Australia. As stated by census in 2001,
Scottish Gaelic has around 58,650 speakers.
Cornish The alternative names are Kernowek, Kernewek and Curnoack. The former

language speakers are individuals below 20 years of age. In 2001 census, the language was
publicly known as a native national minority of the country. In 2003, there are around 500
speakers who use Cornish language.
Gaelic, Irish alternative names are Erse, Gaeilge and Irish. 10

7 http://www.thefamouspeople.com/novelists.php
8 According to the 2011 census, 53,098,301 people in England and Wales, 5,044,683 people in Scotland,
and 1,681,210 people in Northern Ireland can speak English "well" or "very well"; totalling 59,824,194.
Therefore, out of the 60,815,385 residents of the UK over the age of three, 98% can speak English "well" or
"very well".

9 Europeans and their languages (PDF), European Commission, 2006, p. 13,

10 ONS census, QS205EW Proficiency in English. Retrieved 15 March 2015.

The Education System in The United Kingdom

Education matters in the country are delegated separately to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
and England. Education in Wales is the accountability of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning is in-charge in education in Scotland and
controlled by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. Presently Caitrona Ruane is responsible
in education in Northern Ireland11, though liability in local level is controlled by 5 Education and
Library Boards. 12
Primary education may obtain the form of combined infant (2 years) and junior schools (4 years)
which lasts for 6 years (from age 5 to 11). Secondary education is from age of 11 to 16 years.
Primary school education is mandatory from age 5. Students follow a common prospectus
leading to the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary examinations and Vocational
Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary Level. Higher education is consists of universities,
colleges and institutions of higher education and art and music colleges. Oxford University 13 and
Cambridge University are the some world's oldest universities and ranked at or close to the
uppermost of all top universities in the world.14

Health and Safety in The United Kingdom

The Department of Health is liable for health improvement, protection and discrimination health
matters in England, as well as seasonal flu, epidemic influenza, safety, drugs, obesity, sexual
health and international health.15
Department of Health of the country provides information and assistance on sexual health
including abortion, contraception, and HIV/AIDS. Another governments main concern is the
obesity. It is related with a lot of diseases and also enlarged mortality and lesser life expectancy.
Life expectation at birth m/f (years) is 77/81; healthy life anticipation at birth m/f is 69/72 (2015). 16

11 http://www.hmc.org.uk/about-hmc/projects/the-british-education-system/
12 http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_uk/education_system/
13 http://www.ox.ac.uk/
14
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/21
9167/v01-2012ukes.pdf
15 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/health-and-safety-executive

The Economy of The United Kingdom

The About 25% of Britain's land is arable, and almost half is suitable for meadows and pastures. Its
agriculture is highly mechanized and extremely productive; about 2% of the labor force produces 60%
percent of the country's food needs. Barley, wheat, rapeseed, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, and
vegetables are the main crops. The widespread dairy industry produces milk, eggs, and cheese. Beef
cattle and large numbers of sheep, as well as poultry and pigs, are raised throughout much of the
country.17 There is also a sizable fishing industry, with cod, haddock, mackerel, whiting, trout, salmon,
and shellfish making up the bulk of the catch. economy of UK comprises of the economies of
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. With a GDP (PPP) per capita of about $2.77
trillion in 2007, it is the 3rd biggest economy in Europe next to Germany and France and the 5th
biggest in the world in terms of market exchange rates. Its capital London is one of the financial
centres of the world on par with New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 18
The country's chief exports are manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food and beverages, and
tobacco. The chief imports are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and foodstuffs. Since the early
1970s, Great Britain's trade focus has shifted from the United States to the European Union, which
now accounts for over 50% of its trade. The United States, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are
the main trading partners19, and the Commonwealth countries are also important.

Ethnic groups

People from various ethnic groups reside in the United Kingdom. Intermittent migration
from Northern Europe has been happening for millennia, with other groups such as British
Jews also well established. Since World War II, substantial immigration from the New
Commonwealth, Europe, and the rest of the world has altered the demography of many cities
in the United Kingdom.20

The increase in the numbers of people from different ethnic backgrounds and
countries was one of the most significant changes in Britain during the 1990s.
This paper uses data from the 1991 and 2001 Censuses to describe the

16 https://osha.europa.eu/en/about-eu-osha/national-focal-points/united-kingdom
17 http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/great-britain-economy.html
18
https://issuu.com/businessadvantage/docs/businessadvantagepacificislands2010
19 http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/trade.html
20 http://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ethnic%20groups%20in%20the
%20United%20Kingdom

distribution of Britain's main minority ethnic groups, and how it has changed,
both across the country as a whole and in the four largest conurbations. 21
Britain is still a predominantly white society, with 92% of its population from the
white majority in 2001. However, this picture is changing, with a rapidly
increasing diversity of ethnic groups and cultures. According to Census data,
Britain's population22 grew by 4% in the 1990s. 73% of this growth was due to
minority ethnic groups, which grew by about 1.6 million people compared with
600,000 in the white population. The fastest growing group was 'Black African',
more than doubling during the decade. Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Chinese
groups also saw rapid growth.

Getting Visas to The United Kingdom

All types of visa applications require valid passports, passport-sized photograph, visa fee which is
non-refundable and supporting documents related to the applied application. You may apply visa
by courier, online, post and in person. The staff of the visa application centre will assist you in
determining which type you can apply for23.
The documents required for tourist visa are the following: letter of approval from the employer
regarding leave of absence and indicate the length of service rendered to the company, nature of
work and period of intend to stay, round trip ticket and verified itinerary. For business visa, the
requirements are round trip ticket; proof of business activities; business letter with company
letterhead indicating the purpose, duration of the visit, hotel information, company to be visited
and financial status for self-employed.24 For student visa, the requirements are letter from school
indicating the course and duration of the visit, confirmed itinerary, bank of statements and
evidence of available savings.

Conclusion

21 These estimates are known as the SOCPOP estimates and can be found at the Census
Dissemination Unit website (http://census.ac.uk/cdu/Datasets/1991_Census_datasets/
Area_Stats/Adjusted_data/Undercount_adjusted_data/SOCPOP).

22 Fuller explanations of the comparability of 1991 and 2014 data can be found
on the National Statistics website (www.statistics.gov.uk).
23 https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
24 https://www.justlanded.com/english/United-Kingdom/UK-Guide/Visas-Permits/Visas

My essay has looked, therefore to present you a lot of things about Great Britain
and I wanted to do this because in my opinion is one the most interesting country
regarding culture,places to visit and things to do.