What we mean by the term National Identity and why it can be complex to define

1. National Identity

3. Starter
• Why do we need IGOs to help protect our
environment
• Why do some countries persistently ignore
environmental rules and regulations

4. Learning Objectives
• Understand the concept of Nationalism
• Consider the different aspects of our
National Identity
• Appreciate that some countries are more
nationalistic than others
• Assess the reasons why national identity is
often hard to understand

5. What is our National Identity
• After conflict often countries base
themselves on democracy, freedom,
respect and liberty
• This is often a way of reducing nationalism
• The EU and UN are based on these
• We try to weak nationalism through
internationalism and IGOs
• However Nationalism remains a powerful
force

6. • The Balkans shows how powerful
nationalism can be
• Nationalism can be reinforced through
– Education
– Sport
– Politics
• Where loyalty to a particular group can be
reinforced

7. Public Events
• These often present an
opportunity for
nationalism to be seen.
• Extremism can be seen
via the National Front or
the BNP

8. • A desire to show national pride such as
sporting events or the opening of the
Olympic games

9. Loyalty
• Nationalism inspires loyalty and devotion
• Its often associated with slogans or
symbols
– Flags
– Anthems
– Currency
– Passports
• Identity and Loyalty are often tied to legal
systems and methods of governance
• We concentrate our loyalty by often
criticising another system.
• Football teams is a prime example of this

10. National Identity and
Multinationalism
• Thanks to globalisation we are now
interconnected
• Emerging countries are developing deeper
connections with the developed world
• This results in migration
• This creates multinationalism with many
ethnic groups
• Questions of national identity therefore
become more complex
• In the UK people see themselves as
English, Scottish or Welsh before they see
themselves as British

11. Terrorism
• Global terrorism has created tension with
Muslim communities in secular countries
• Islamic Society of Britain recognise that first
generation migrants may have felt culturally
displaced from their home countries
• Yet third and second generation Muslims
regard the UK as their home

12. Challenges
• Made In Britain is a very complex notion
• Many British firms are owned by foreign
companies
• There is much confusion about this.
– HP Sauce?
– Dyson
– Royal Doulton
– Rayleigh
• None are British owned
• It’s not always as simple as we feel
• Our national identity through our products are
often not owned by the companies we think

13. Loss of Heritage
• House of Fraser
• Sarsons vinegar
• Branston Pickle
• Walker Crisps
• Weetabix
• Jaguar
• Manchester United
• Tetley
• Smirnoff
• Newcastle Brown Ale
• Scottish Power
• Thames Water
• O2
• Heathrow Airport
• Boots UK
• Cadbury
• Terry's Chocolate Orange
• Rolls Royce

14. Westernisation
• The world’s largest 500 companies
generate $31.2 trillion in revenue and $1.7
trillion in profit and employ 65 million
worldwide
• British GDP = $2.86 trillion
• This is equal to the whole output of Italy in
profits per year.
• They come from 36 countries but the
majority are based in the USA, Europe, SE
Asia
• All project their influence globally through
ownership of foreign companies

15. TNCs
• Those in the western world have much greater
connections than elsewhere
• They promote the capitalist model
• Brand-orientated consumerism has lead to
unethical exploitation in the worlds poorest
countries (Remember the UNs first ideas that were
voted down?)
– Entitled to regulate and control activities of MNC
operating within their territory
– Free to nationalise or expropriate foreign property on
conditions favourable to them
– Free to set up associations of primary commodities
producers similar to OPEC others should respect this
right and not challenge it
– Able to benefit from stable and equitable prices for raw
materials, tariffs and transfer of technology and
Economic assistance should be free from conditions.
• This never happened….

16. TNCs and Land Grabs
• The West grabbing Africa?