Britain, Europe and National Identity

By: Justin Gibbins

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Synopsis: Britain's stormy relationship with the European Union is a frequently cited illustration of a Eurosceptic state par excellence. Possessive of a strong national identity, a unique island status, a plethora of wartime experiences and a tenacious hold over its sovereignty, Britain has long been invested with an 'awkward partner' status. This study seeks to unravel such presuppositions to answer the central research question: How has British national identity been forged and constructed by competing political elite visions of Europe? It patterns Britain's national identity over a number of important historical milestones and brings the debates over Europe up-to-date with an analysis of recent happenings including the referendum on Scottish independence, the global economic crisis and the current crisis in Syria.