Overview

This series sets out the historical national and religious characteristics of the Germans, French, Italians, Spanish, Dutch and British as they impact on the integration of the respective groups within the European Union. With respect to Britain the characterisation focuses on its active and dominant Parliament as it has evolved since the sixteenth century. A primary characteristic is its early social legislation and control by a relatively broad sector of the populace. From 1688 Parliament became the central institution of government. Together with expanding national literacy, associated with religious developments, Parliament became responsible for the emergence of a broadly-based national identity involving considerable awareness of national issues. In later years the Empire became a source of pride for the population at large. This forged national identity gave the British the necessary willpower to withstand the German onslaught in the Second World War. Latterly, British involvement in the EU has not affected the strength of its nationalism, based as it is on myths which go back a millennium. Because of their robust national identity, the British will inevitably find European integration difficult to come to terms with, notwithstanding a natural inclination to lead and to be involved in supra-state decision making.

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9781845193942

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Reviews

Yehuda Cohen's aim is nothing less than to lay before us a full and detailed account of both the origins and prospect of British national identity and religious heritage. By charting with great skill and amazing erudition the evolution of British nationalism from antiquity to the present, the author shows us Britain's unique place and role in the European Union. -- Professor Avihu Zakai, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, author of Exile and Kingdom: History and Apocalypse in the Puritan Migration to America (CUP)

Author Information

Yehuda Cohen is a Jerusalem advocate whose post-doctoral work at the Political Science Department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem focused on nationalism and the European Union.

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