National identity is an elusive and contested concept (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

National identity is an elusive and contested concept

Nationalism is Reinforced Through

• Sport - British national pride at the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony
• Education - values taught in school such as the importance of English
• History - nationalism is sometimes strengthened by perceived threats eg. due to immigration or globalisation. History can also make people proud of the past, the bravery of a nation's army
• Religion
• Politics - eg. BREXIT was a rejection of internationalism in favour of national freedoms, eg. over immigration and trade. A political party's agenda can be strongly associated with a country's identity in order to gain more members and votes.

Distinctions

National identity is the sense of a nation as a cohesive unit, represented by distinctive traditions, cultures and language. Thus, each nation has an identity unique to them.

• Legal systems - the First and Second Amendments in the USA
• Methods of governance - the principles of the Magna Carta
• National character 'liberty, equality, fraternity' in France
• Landscape the English landscape

Multinationalism

Most countries are now multinational, containing many contrasting ethnic groups. As a result, questions of national identity and loyalty have become complex and a traditional national identity is often difficult to determine.

Nationalism is Complicated by

• The fact that most countries are multicultural and with many contrasting ethnicities
• Questions of loyalty have become complex - many people have mixed loyalties: To their place of birth, to where they live and to their country heritage
• Changes in religion, food and vocabulary have altered perceptions of national identity