‘We all just want a flag to get behind’: the politics of English national identity

ABSTRACT

This paper explores English national identity through qualitative interviews with English-identifying voters in rural South-West England, amidst post-Brexit and COVID-19 uncertainties. Analysing 16 in-depth interviews, the study uncovers micro-level foundations of English identity, revealing a multifaceted view where participants consider it an absent identity. As members of the dominant cultural group, they define Englishness by their perceived 'normal,' distancing anything diverging from their norms as foreign. The study suggests a connection between English identity and reactive resentment towards perceived asymmetrical identity norms compared to neighbouring devolved nations. These findings shed light on the nuanced nature of English identity in rural areas and contribute to discussions about fostering a progressive and inclusive English identity.

KEYWORDS:

• England
• Englishness
• British politics
• identity
• devolution

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the peer reviewers for their helpful and constructive feedback on previous versions of this article. Thanks also goes to Professor Darren Lilleker and Dr Ian Gwinn for reading and commenting on early drafts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

This study received ethical clearance from Bournemouth University Research Ethics Board with the ethics ID 28268 in October 2019.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tabitha A. Baker

Tabitha A. Baker is a senior lecturer in politics and writes on interdisciplinary themes concerning the dynamics of national, regional, and local identities in challenging political contexts.