Will ideas of nationhood change once Brexit happens in 2019

Will ideas of nationhood change once Brexit happens in 2019

Introduction

National identity is critical in identifying the location of every citizen. It is for the reason that no human can exist in a vacuum since they have to be identified with a particular country, culture, or even religion. Further, the world contains different countries which are embodied in different continents. Therefore, whenever a group of people is brought together through culture, common language, or even economic life, the outcome is always nationhood. The extent of some groups to show their respect and loyalty towards their respective country of origin instead of the entire nation is a spirit of national identity. Britain retains a long history of struggle to bring together Scotland, Wales and England. England being the motherland is seen as a threat to political dominance an aspect that provoked extensive aggression in the 1990s resulting in the establishment of regional assemblies for Wales and Scotland. Some political aspirants authored a possible cessation of Britain from the European Union terming it as a regional integration rather than a global outlook (Podmore 103). The move has however faced different perspectives alongside varying possible consequences. Scotland is in this case seen aggressive against Brexit in what is termed as fear of political dominance. It is however considered necessary to be conservative to retain the British nationhood void of interference from any other form of political alliance. The question eventually results in an open contradiction of the consequences of Brexit. This paper thus seeks to find out if the ideas of nationhood will change in case Brexit happens in 2019, taking a clear outline of history to project on the future.

Distinction between nationhood and national identity

The making of a nation and region is one of the historical events that have been influential in defining people and groups from diverse backgrounds. Countries and regional groupings across the world have been derived from politics, which entailed the sharing of the resources. The concept of nationhood has been instrumental in the development of states and regional grouping due to the influence it has on the sense of belonging and identity. Nationhood entails a cohesive loyalty to a nation rather than to a given ethnic, race, or religious grouping in a given society (Lynch 105-110). The concept of nationhood emerged in the late 18th century after the fall of the religious, feudal, and dynasty bonds as the primary political influence. Thus, nationhood spreads beyond a given group of people defined by the ethnic, religious, or language identity to one that is determined by the loyalty between the ruled and the rulers (Aughey et al. 348-353). Nationhood was responsible for bringing people from different religious, beliefs, language, and ethnic orientations in forming the modern nations since the late 18th century. The concept of nationhood has a slight difference in the idea of national identity. National identity groups the status of diverse people according to their ethnic, race, or religious orientation. It has the effect of generating loyalty to one’s ethnic, religious, dynasty, or sport instead of the geographical nation they are based or born.

Background to Britains nationhood

The difference between nationhood and national identity can be demonstrated conclusively by reflecting on the British government. The loyalty the citizens of Britain hold in defending and contributing to the development of the country is based on the spirit of nationhood (Lynch 105-110). The population serves the entire nation’s interests as their own at the global stage. In contrast, the idea of national identity in Britain is depicted by segregating the population to their traditional grouping of being from Scotland, Ireland, or England and the wales (Aughey et al. 348-353). The United Kingdom is derived from the three states in forming one nation based on the spirit of nationhood. Equally, loyalty to one’s religion or empire differentiates nationhood and national identity (Yosmaoğlu 45-63). The nationhood is in this case derived from the distinct political arena for Wales and Scotland. It is noted that Northern Ireland was rather smoothly integrated into Britain in 1990s as compared to Wales and Scotland who had to have regional assemblies. It is hence learned that nationhood is built on loyalty towards a nation composed of people from diverse backgrounds, while national identity is based on commitment towards a society compromising people from individual identity. The greatest role of the union is thus held in the role played in doing away with any view distinct from retaining nationhood. It is from this perspective that the European Union whose terms calls for enactment of policies cutting across European nations is seen as a threat to British nationhood. Again the political status of Britain is different from the other nations formed of single states and thus needs to be less cautious of any alliance.

Effects of Britain joining the European Union to her nationhood

The nationhood of the United Kingdom after entry to the European Union was impacted significantly. The European Union by pooling the various sovereign nations engaged in the harmonization of certain policies regarding laws, political and economic issues (Bogdanor, 2019). The three dimensions the European Union has been harmonizing for the diverse member states are critical in determining the nationhood of a given nation. The laws of a particular nation are derived from the aspirations of its people in running their systems and protecting their civil rights. Thus, the entry of the United Kingdom to the European Union touched on the spirit that drove its nationhood in the formation of one nation from the different traditional autonomous states (Aughey et al. 348-353).  The formation of the modern United Kingdom culminated from the atrocities faced by the Scottish and Irish descendants during the reign of the England administration. The laws were formulated to cure the disquiet the Scottish and Irish had against the England leadership, which they considered as a form of colonialism, in winning the spirit of nationhood (Podmore 34-38). Accordingly, the harmonization of certain laws touching on the spirit that has kept the UK nationhood alive over the years has an adverse effect since it erodes the confidence and systems that have maintained togetherness.

Similarly, the harmonization of particular political policies by the European Union governing how the various member are expected to practice their politics has touched on the nationhood of the United Kingdom. Politics entails the sharing of the resources among the diverse groups in a given society (Mukhopadhyay, 2019). Thus, the politics of a given nation or region involves the governance activities that will promote the wellbeing of the people. This aspect demonstrates the effect of the decision to enter the European Union has affected the nationhood of the U.K. The force behind the spirit of nationhood of been loyal to the United Kingdom by the diverse ethnic, religious, races is derived from the shared principles of determining a governance system and leadership that will advance their wellbeing. Thus, the loss of the shared direction on means of setting a governance structure and leadership in pushing for their welfare dilutes the nationhood of the U.K.

Argument for European Union against Britain

The rationale behind this argument is based on the recognition that the spirit of the people from diverse backgrounds showing loyalty to the U.K since they believe it will push for their wellbeing has been shifted to the E.U. Similarly, the harmonization of critical economic policies by E.U has affected the nationhood of the U.K due to the feeling it has brought to some groups of been more economically under E.U than under the confines of U.K. Ireland and Scotland have shifted their loyalty towards the E.U due to the feeling that the economic rights and interests of their people are more secure than being under the British system. Accordingly, entry to E.U by the U.K has affected its nationhood spirit detrimentally (Holman 12-24).

The present nationhood of Britain is heavily diluted compared to the early days during the formation of the nation in the late 18th century. The current political division has been experienced in Britain after the Brexit vote demonstrates the weakening spirit of nationhood. The people of the United Kingdom divided between remaining under the European Union nationhood and shifting back to British nationhood. The traditional loyalty by the people towards Britain that defined its nationhood has been divided right at the center by the Brexit politics. Equally, the looming cession referendum in Scotland for self-determination from Britain demonstrates the weakening nationhood since the 1870s. The decision by the Scottish to call for autonomy from Britain if the Brexit is ratified depicts the loss of loyalty of remaining as part of the U.K and opting to show its allegiance to the wider E.U region. Moreover, the emergence of nationalism politics in Britain is evidence of deteriorating nationhood.

Nationalism politics is obsessed with the superiority perception of a certain group of people in a society based on their race, ethnic, language, or religious background. Thus, the present emergence and embracement of nationalism politics been witnessed in the United Kingdom illustrates that the spirit of nationhood is diminishing. The present weak nationhood of Britain is also reflected by the emerging racial and religious discriminations. A nation embracing the spirit nationhood is characterized by a cohesive society that does not discriminate individuals due to the diverse background of the majority. Thus, the reported cases of discrimination against the blacks and Muslims in British are a demonstration that the nation is losing its nationhood ideas.

The change of Britain’s nationhood after the Brexit implementation is a critical concern the analysts have been evaluating. The Brexit implies the decision by Britain to leave the European Union after the citizens voted overwhelmingly to opt-out. A critical reflection on the politics surrounding the Brexit demonstrates that it will leave the nationhood spirit at its weakest point since the 1870s. One of the aspects demonstrating the Brexit will leave the nationhood at its worst is the decision by Scotland to hold a referendum to leave Britain once the decision is ratified (Johnson and Jayne 135-145).

Effects on Britains nationhood if Brexit succeeds

A boost to nationhood

The 1999 vote for wales and Scotland outpowered Ireland where England was seen as a threat to taking power of the national assemblies. Scotland and wales were of the opinion on retaining regional assemblies. The recent vote on Brexit where Scotland took a divergent view seems to be a repetition of history (Johnson 122). All said and done, it is possible that such rivalries would contribute to the failure of Brexit vote. The implication, in this case, is that, if the whole of Britain succeeds to garner enough votes to exit the European Union then Wales and Scotland would have joined the basket of trusting their nationhood as part of Britain.

Asymmetrical devolution political rivalry

England has experiences of contempt on the claim of political dominance. If Brexit becomes a reality, it will sporulate political opportunism amongst, Wales and Scotland. The biggest question would be why one succeeded and not the other in the Brexit vote process. Again a resentment would come along England not being allowed to have a regional assembly as is the case with both Wales and Scotland (Bogdanor 134). History clearly indicates Britain as a nation of minority nations: Wales and Scotland with their elected assemblies and a majority: England not accounting for the peace process that led to accompaniment of Irish land. The quest for asymmetric devolution can be viewed as a demand for the minority nations who fear the political dominance of England. The implication, in this case, is that Brexit would revive the long struggle of the establishment of comprehensive English nationhood.

Conservation from Euroscepticism

Britain stands out amongst the European nations as the only union of states. It would be ignorant assuming the threat that is contributed by a nationalism other than a comprehensive national identity. The position preferred by Scotland is, for instance, ridiculous to the coherent of survival of Britain as a nation. History dictates that 1990s political dominance for the establishment of a sound nation alongside the 1970s rivalries call for a learnt lesson (Podmore 97). If Brexit succeeds then, the history of the struggle for the establishment of the nation would be at stake and hence preserve from Euroscepticism.

Emergence of England as global Britain

The pioneers of Brexit: political aspirants and elites viewed Britain to the European Union as a just a regional relationship. They, in this case, argued that the goal of Britain was a global market integration and thus preferred leaving. A critical analysis, however, displays the move as a means of reviving monarchial dominance. If Brexit succeeds then, England would gain control of the free market that would result in her rigid position in the global market (Johnson and Jayne 135-145).

Conclusion

The decision by the people of Scotland to leave the U.K if the Brexit succeeds has the effect of weakening its nationhood due to the loss of loyalty form a significant section of the society. Similarly, the current divisions been witnessed by the political class on the implementation of the Brexit depicts its potential of hurting the spirit of nationhood. The political class has a significant influence on the decision of their followers in remaining loyal to the rulers. Thus, the heated political divisions attributed to the Brexit implementation process demonstrate that it will affect the traditional nationhood adversely due to the loss of loyalty towards their leaders. Moreover, the economic impact of Brexit will change Britain’s nationhood. The Brexit has a detrimental economic impact of Britain due to the loss of trading opportunities it has been enjoying across the lucrative European Union market. This development will lead to the loss of jobs as manufacturers and businesses relocate to countries within E.U. The people of Britain are likely to lose the need to retain their nationhood spirit and seek better opportunities outside the country. Accordingly, the Brexit decision will have negative implications on the nationhood spirit due to deteriorating politics and economic repercussions that are expected to arise. The political integration of Britain is seen to have undergone various test of time including the 1970s and 1990s rivalries. It would thus be considerate being conservative rather than retaining EU integration. The global perspective of the English market also advocates for a preference for global integration as compared to the regional market concentration bearing in mind her economic independence. The long-run implication, however, is that if Brexit takes place, Britain will retain her nationhood. It would, on the contrary, stimulate internal political rivalries and opportunisms where Wales and Scotland would be threatened by England’s dominance.