British national identity and the dilemmas of multiculturalism

Asari, E. M., Halikiopoulou, D. and Mock, S. (2008) British national identity and the dilemmas of multiculturalism. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 14 (1). pp. 1-28. ISSN 1557-2986 doi: 10.1080/13537110701872444

Abstract/Summary

Nationalism and multiculturalism are often perceived as polar opposites with the former viewed as the disease and the latter the cure. Contrary to this view, this article argues that a strong national identity, albeit of a particular kind, is prerequisite to a stable and functioning multicultural society. The article seeks to identify both the causes and the implications of the absence of an overarching, civic national identity in Britain, further to the goal of seeking a meaningful solution. It is our contention that the problem lies in the difficulty involved in reconciling current pressures on British identity with a coherent narrative of British history, especially its imperial past.