Sociology Unit 1A Definitions Topic 9

Front 1

What did Trevor Phillips argue?

Back 1

Britain was in danger of ‘sleepwalking into segregation’. He feared this because various ethnic groups were drifting further apart.

Front 2

What was Foxs book?

Back 2

Kate Fox (2005) wrote a book called ‘Watching the English'

Front 3

What does Fox argue about what makes people distinctively English?

Back 3

-Fox notes that one of the reasons why the English talk about weather so much especially with strangers is because this is a language code. When a person makes a comment about the weather to a stranger, if we could out a subtitle underneath to understand its meaning it would say ‘be my friend’. When the stranger says yes I agree, horrible weather isn’t it, typical England, they are actually saying ‘yes I will be your friend’. In this instance, the English are a shy and prudish people who employ a long winded and complicated set system of conversation codes. Seeing as we have been socialised into these codes of behaviour, we understand and feel comfortable using them,however people from other nations may well find them confusing, leading Fox to conclude that we have hidden rules for English behaviour.

Front 4

What does Sadar generally argue?

Back 4

Sadar (2002) argues that the world is going through a ‘global identity crisis’.Sadar argues that lots of English traditions are becoming outdated to the people living here now and that we should focus on getting a confident identity based on diversity and what we have in common.

Front 5

What does Sadar argue his point because of?

Back 5

Many of the traditional ideas of east v west or communism v capitalism that existed have broken down since the end of the Cold War (1990). Britain had the largest empire in the world as it took control of territories (colonies) all over the world from the late 16th to early 18th century. At its height, the empire covered ¼ of countries and 1/5 of the world’s total population. However independence,conflict and war reduced the empire over time. Nowadays,Britain finds itself to be a much smaller nation in a world of growing superpowers like Russia, USA, India, North Korea and leaves us looking for allies and the choice to be either more American or European.

Front 6

What are nation states?

Back 6

An independent self-governing geographical area united by a common identity and culture

Front 7

What is national identity bound by?

Back 7

-Traditional stories i.e. democracy ,independence ,freedom

-Collective memories i.e. World wars,1966 world cup victory

-Images i.e. green and pleasant England

-symbols i.e. coins, flags ,anthems ,uniforms

-Public rituals i.e remembrance day, Easter, Christmas,

Front 8

What are problems with national identities?

Back 8

-Usually based off crude stereotypes so ignore cultural similarities between countries and variations within them

-Ignores cultural hybridity that makes up nations ie British asians

Front 9

What does Islamophobia mean

Back 9

hostility towards muslims

Front 10

What is nationalism?

Back 10

a political idea that claims the right of every nation to have its own historical homeland and independent state to run its own affairs.

Front 11

criticisms of Sadar?

Back 11

Are we really losing our nationalidentity? National identity is never lost, it just evolves and adapts overtime.

Front 12

CRITICISMS OF FOX?

Back 12

Some argue that while it does appear there are significant differencesbetween the English and British identity, in reality these differences areregional and don’t apply to the whole national identity.

Front 13

CRITICISMS OF PHILLIPS?

Back 13

Are British people who emigrate to Spain and take over Spanishcommunities as ‘ex-pats’ really any different to other nationalities coming toBritain and making it their home?