A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Britain is no longer an imperial country.though the effects of its imperial past may be often encountered in all sorts of ways:not least in the close relationshipswhich exist with the fifty or more countries which used to be a part of that empire.and which maintain links through a loose (and voluntary)organization called the Commonwealth of Nations But more important today in Britain's intemational relations is the European Union.3 of which the UK has been a member since 1973.and it is more useful when considering modern Britain to emphasize its role as a European nation. rather than its membership of the Commonwealth.It remains a relatively wealthy country.a member of the Group of Seven large developed economies.One other obvious effect of that old imperial role lies in the make-up of the British population itself.Immigration from some of those Commonwealth countries. which was encouraged in the 1950s and 1960s.has produced a population of which 1 in 20 are of non-European ethnicity.They themselves.or their parents or grandparents,were bor in India or Pakistan,the countries of the Caribbean,to name only the most common. This introduces what is the key theme of the chapters about the United Kingdom as is the case for most,or all,countries.it is not possible to sum up the British people with a few simple phrases.Many people who think of Britain think of the 1
1 A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Britain is no longer an imperial country, though the effects of its imperial past may be often encountered in all sorts of ways; not least in the close relationships which exist with the fifty or more countries which used to be a part of that empire, and which maintain links through a loose (and voluntary) organization called the Commonwealth of Nations But more important today in Britain’s international relations is the European Union,3 of which the UK has been a member since 1973, and it is more useful when considering modern Britain to emphasize its role as a European nation, rather than its membership of the Commonwealth. It remains a relatively wealthy country, a member of the Group of Seven large developed economies. One other obvious effect of that old imperial role lies in the make-up of the British population itself. Immigration from some of those Commonwealth countries, which was encouraged in the 1950s and 1960s, has produced a population of which 1 in 20 are of non-European ethnicity. They themselves, or their parents or grandparents, were born in India or Pakistan, the countries of the Caribbean, to name only the most common. This introduces what is the key theme of the chapters about the United Kingdom: as is the case for most, or all, countries, it is not possible to sum up the British people with a few simple phrases. Many people who think of Britain think of the
English gentleman.But this is just a stereotype which never applied to the majority of the British people.and really has little validity today.The UKis one nation,with a single passport,and a single government having sovereignty over it all,but as the full name of the nationsuggests,it is made up of different elements.It includes 4 parts:the island of Great Britain is made up of England,Scotland and Wales,and Northern Ireland.a province on the neighboring island of Ireland,completes the set5. It has been already pointed out that the UK is now a multiracialsociety,and these quite recent groups of immigrants have brought aspects of their own cultures with them which sit side by side with more traditionally British ways of life. It is a society with a class-structure.It is possible to exaggerate the importance of this class-structure.because of course most countries have some kind of class- system.but it is true to say that the class structure of UK society is relatively obvious.The culture of a factory worker whose father was a factory worker may be quite different from that of a stockbroker whose father was a stockbroker:they will tend to read different newspapers,watch different television programmes. speak with a different accent,do different things in their free-time,and have different expectations for their children Another difference which marks British society is that of region.Even within each 2
2 English gentleman. But this is just a stereotype which never applied to the majority of the British people, and really has little validity today. The UK is one nation, with a single passport, and a single government having sovereignty over it all, but as the full name of the nation suggests, it is made up of different elements. It includes 4 parts: the island of Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland, a province on the neighboring island of Ireland, completes the set5. It has been already pointed out that the UK is now a multiracial society, and these quite recent groups of immigrants have brought aspects of their own cultures with them which sit side by side with more traditionally British ways of life. It is a society with a class-structure. It is possible to exaggerate the importance of this class-structure, because of course most countries have some kind of classsystem, but it is true to say that the class structure of UK society is relatively obvious. The culture of a factory worker whose father was a factory worker may be quite different from that of a stockbroker whose father was a stockbroker: they will tend to read different newspapers, watch different television programmes, speak with a different accent, do different things in their free-time, and have different expectations for their children. Another difference which marks British society is that of region. Even within each
of the four countries there are different regions:the difference between the "highland"and "lowland"Scots has a long historical significance.for example:north and south England are also considered to be culturally distinct. though the boundary between them is not marked on any map.and exists only as a rather unclear mental attitude Nevertheless.there is some basis to the distinction in economic terms as the south is on average wealthier than the north.Part of the reason for that economic difference between north and south is found in another distinction which marks British society.a distinction which can be seen in many societies but is perhaps particularly obvious in the UK,that is,the difference between the capital and the provinces. London is in the south of the country,and is dominant in the United Kingdom in all sorts of ways.It is by far the largest city in the country,with about one seventh of the nation's population;it is the seat of government:8 it is the cultural centre. home to all the major news-papers,TV stations,and with far and away the widest selection of galleries,theatres and museums.Also it is the business centre headquarters of the vast majority of Britain's big companies;it is the financial centre of the nation,and one of the three major international financial centres in the world.As such it combines the functions of Beijing.Shanghai,and Guangzhou, or New York,Washington and Los Angeles,in one city.And given its long- 3
3 of the four countries there are different regions: the difference between the “highland” and “lowland” Scots has a long historical significance, for example: north and south England are also considered to be culturally distinct, though the boundary between them is not marked on any map, and exists only as a rather unclear mental attitude Nevertheless, there is some basis to the distinction in economic terms as the south is on average wealthier than the north. Part of the reason for that economic difference between north and south is found in another distinction which marks British society, a distinction which can be seen in many societies but is perhaps particularly obvious in the UK, that is, the difference between the capital and the provinces. London is in the south of the country, and is dominant in the United Kingdom in all sorts of ways. It is by far the largest city in the country, with about one seventh of the nation’s population; it is the seat of government;8 it is the cultural centre, home to all the major news- papers, TV stations, and with far and away the widest selection of galleries, theatres and museums. Also it is the business centre, headquarters of the vast majority of Britain’s big companies; it is the financial centre of the nation, and one of the three major international financial centres in the world. As such it combines the functions of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, or New York, Washington and Los Angeles, in one city. And given its long-
standing historical role in the UK.perhaps Xi'an too!London is a huge weight in Britain's economic and cultural life,and to some extent the rest of the country lives in its shadow England England is a highly urbanized country,with 80%of its population living in cities. and only 2%of the population working in agriculture.Its largest city is the capital. London.which is dominant in the UKin all fields:government,finance,and culture. England is physically the largest of the four nations,and it has by far the largest population.This dominance in size is reflected in a cultural and economic dominance too,which has the result that people in foreign countries sometimes make the mistake of talking about England when they mean the UK9.Significantly, people in England sometimes make that mistaketoo.but people in the other three nations would not:they might call themselves British(as might the English).or they might call themselves Scottish or Welsh or Irish,but they certainly wouldn't call themselves(or like to be called)English.So oddly.of the four nations.the English feel most British.and therefore have the weakest sense of themselves as a separate "English"culture within Britain10. British history has been a history of invasions.Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful culture originating in central Europe.Then in 43 AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire and England and Wales(though not Scotland or Ireland)became a part
4 standing historical role in the UK, perhaps Xi’an too! London is a huge weight in Britain’s economic and cultural life, and to some extent the rest of the country lives in its shadow England England is a highly urbanized country, with 80% of its population living in cities, and only 2% of the population working in agriculture. Its largest city is the capital, London, which is dominant in the UK in all fields: government, finance, and culture. England is physically the largest of the four nations, and it has by far the largest population. This dominance in size is reflected in a cultural and economic dominance too, which has the result that people in foreign countries sometimes make the mistake of talking about England when they mean the UK9. Significantly, people in England sometimes make that mistake too, but people in the other three nations would not: they might call themselves British (as might the English), or they might call themselves Scottish or Welsh or Irish, but they certainly wouldn’t call themselves (or like to be called) English. So oddly, of the four nations, the English feel most British, and therefore have the weakest sense of themselves as a separate “English” culture within Britain10. British history has been a history of invasions. Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people: a powerful culture originating in central Europe. Then in 43 AD Britain was invaded by the Roman Empire and England and Wales (though not Scotland or Ireland) became a part
of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east,the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain,and Britain was again divided into small kingdoms,and again it came under threat from outside,this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles.and the Saxon.One of the best-known English legends derives from this time.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader appeared.united the British.and with his magical sword.Excalibur.drove the Saxons back.This is the story of King Arthur and has been embellished by singers.poets,novelists and even filmmakers ever since.Although King Arthur s real existence is in doubt,you can visit places associated with his legend,such as the cliff-edge castle at Tintagel in Comwal According to legend Arthur gathered a company of knights to him,who sat together at Arthur's castle at Camelot(possibly the real hilltop fort at Cadbury Hill in Somerset).Conflict between his knights led to Arthur creating the famous "round table"at which all would have equal precedence.Perhaps this could be seen as an indicator of the way in which the English have wished to see their monarch as something other than a remote dictator,and have in fact managed to gradually bind the monarchy into a more democratic system,rather than completely rejecting it. Whatever Arthur s success was.legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celtic people,or 5
5 of the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years. As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kingdoms, and again it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples: the Angles, and the Saxon. One of the best-known English legends derives from this time. In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur, drove the Saxons back. This is the story of King Arthur, and has been embellished by singers, poets, novelists and even filmmakers ever since. Although King Arthur’s real existence is in doubt, you can visit places associated with his legend, such as the cliff-edge castle at Tintagel in Cornwall. According to legend Arthur gathered a company of knights to him, who sat together at Arthur’s castle at Camelot (possibly the real hilltop fort at Cadbury Hill in Somerset). Conflict between his knights led to Arthur creating the famous “round table” at which all would have equal precedence. Perhaps this could be seen as an indicator of the way in which the English have wished to see their monarch as something other than a remote dictator, and have in fact managed to gradually bind the monarchy into a more democratic system, rather than completely rejecting it. Whatever Arthur’s success was, legend or not, it did not last, for the Anglo Saxons did succeed in invading Britain, and either absorbed the Celtic people, or