From mood to movement: English nationalism, the European Union and taking back control

BLACK, Jack (2018). From mood to movement: English nationalism, the European Union and taking back control. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research.

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Abstract

This article considers whether the 2016 EU referendum can be perceived as an English nationalist movement. Specifically, attention is given to examining how memories of the former British Empire were nostalgically enveloped in anxieties regarding England’s location within the devolved UK state. The comments and work of Enoch Powell and George Orwell are used to help explore the link between nostalgia and anxiety in accounts of English nationalism. Despite their opposing political orientations, when considered together, it is argued that both men provide a unique cross-political perspective on Englishness, empire and nostalgia. By way of exploring these themes in relation to the EU referendum, Aughey’s assertion that English nationalism can be perceived as both a ‘mood’ and ‘movement’ is used to highlight how a sense of English anxiety regarding its lack of national sovereignty (mood), as well as a desire to reclaim this sovereignty by renegotiating trade relations with the ‘Anglo-sphere’ (movement), were conjoined in the popular referendum slogan, ‘take back control’. In conclusion, it is argued that the contextualization of the referendum can be predicated upon an orientation to empire that steers away from glorifying pro-imperial images of England/Britain, towards a more positive and progressive appropriation of the EU referendum as a statement of national change and belonging.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	English nationalism/national identity; 2012 EU referendum; George Orwell; Enoch Powell; nostalgia; British Empire
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute > Communication and Computing Research Centre Humanities Research Centre Sociology, Politics and Policy Research Group
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Arts > Department of Media Arts and Communication Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities > Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics Health and Well-being > Department of Sport
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2018.1520080
Depositing User:	Jack Black
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2018 10:19
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 02:33
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22478

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