Britain, Europe and National Identity: Self and Other in International Relations

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.

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Theory and Method
3. The European Communities Membership Referendum
4. The Maastricht Treaty
5. The Treaty of Lisbon
6. Accounting for Change – The Evolution of National Identities
7. Conclusion: Post-Lisbon and British National Identity

• Primary Source