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==Identity and nationality== |
==Identity and nationality== |
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The United Kingdom is generally considered to be a close union by its inhabitants, |
The United Kingdom is generally considered to be a close union by its inhabitants, with shared values, language, currency and culture, and with people moving and working freely throughout.<ref> |
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{{cite web |
{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.ippr.org/articles/?id=3049 |
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</ref> Many citizens of the UK cite "Britain" or |
</ref> Many citizens of the UK cite "Britain" or "United Kingdom" as their country and "British" as their nationality. Others identify solely with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, while many identify primarily with one of these, but hold a sense of '[[Britishness]]' in equal or high esteem.<ref> |
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{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/britain.html |
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| title = Why is England or the UK sometimes called Britain? |
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| work = British Life and Culture |
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| publisher = Woodlands Junior School |
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⚫ | </ref> People with parents and backgrounds of mixed nationality can ally with more than one of the constituent countries. Many people in Northern Ireland strongly identify with being British, and a large minority cite their sole nationality as "Irish", while others identify with both cultures, and others primarily with Northern Ireland itself. UK citizens with ethnic minority backgrounds (especially those descended from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]) can often identify with the nationality of their ancestors, while having (or sharing) a UK identity in any of its strengths or forms. |
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⚫ | |||
Many people in Northern Ireland strongly identify with being ''British'', whereas a large minority identify strongly as being ''Irish''.<ref name="ni_attitudes">{{cite|title=Social Attitudes in Northern Ireland: The First Report|first_editor1=Peter|last_editor1=Stringer|first_edtor2=Gillian|last_editor2=Robinson|year=1991|isbn=0 85640 477 2|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/research/nisas/rep1c2.htm}}</ref> In recent decades, a ''Northern Irish'' identify has grown alongside these.<ref name="ni_attitudes" /> In the most recently published of an annual survey of these attitudes, 37% of respondants in Northern Ireland were found to identify as ''British'', 26% as ''Irish'', and 29% as ''Northern Irish''.<ref name="nilt_id">{{cite web|title=NI Life and Times Survey – 2008:NINATID|work=Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey|year=1998|publisher=ARK Northern Ireland|url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2008/Community_Relations/NINATID.html}}</ref> These attitudes in Northern Ireland correlate strongly with religious beliefs, which themselves relate to political attitudes towards Northern Ireland remaining the United Kingdom or a [[united Ireland|rejoining with the rest of Ireland]].<ref name="nilt_uk">{{cite web|title=NI Life and Times Survey – 2008:NIRELD2 |
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|work=Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey|year=1998|publisher=ARK Northern Ireland|url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2008/Political_Attitudes/NIRELND2.html}}</ref> For example, only 8% of [[Roman Catholics]] identity as being ''British'' and only 4% of [[Protestants]] identify as being ''Irish''.<ref name="nilt_id" /> ''Northern Irish'' identity is shared more broadly across the two communities, with 25% of Roman Catholics and 32% of Protestants identifying a ''Northern Irish''.<ref name="nilt_id" /> |
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{{cite web |
{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.devolution.ac.uk/Final%20Conf/Devolution%20public%20attitudes.pdf |
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</ref> |
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{{cite web |
{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.devolution.ac.uk/Britishness_conf.htm |
| url = http://www.devolution.ac.uk/Britishness_conf.htm |
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{{seealso|Home Nations}} |
{{seealso|Home Nations}} |
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England, Northern Ireland, |
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have a [[List_of_men's_national_association_football_teams#UEFA_.28Europe.29|national football team]], and compete as separate national teams at the various disciplines in the [[Commonwealth Games]].<ref name="worldpeoples">{{cite|title=World and Its Peoples|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|location=Terrytown (NY)|year=2010|quote=In most sports, except soccer, Northern Ireland participates with the Republic of Ireland in a combined All-Ireland team.|page=111}}</ref> At the [[Olympic Games]], all the countries of the UK are represented by the [[Great Britain at the Olympics|Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] team, although athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to join the [[Ireland at the Olympics|Republic of Ireland's Olympic team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/olympics_2012/3433557.stm |title=Irish and GB in Olympic Row |date=27 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=29 March 2010}}</ref>. The Republic of Ireland international teams of sports that have no major presence in Northern Ireland normally extend their membership there. {{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}. |
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For most sports,<ref name="worldpeoples">{{cite|title=World and Its Peoples|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|location=Terrytown (NY)|year=2010|quote=In most sports, except soccer, Northern Ireland participates with the Republic of Ireland in a combined All-Ireland team.|page=111}}</ref> Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland compete as a single international team representing [[all Ireland]]. The last all Ireland association football team was fielded during the 1970s, and Commonwealth Games, where Ireland competed as one team for the last time during the 1930s. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 20:28, 2 April 2010
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/United_Kingdom_labelled_map7.png/250px-United_Kingdom_labelled_map7.png)
Countries of the United Kingdom is a term used to describe England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales: these four together form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, itself a country, and constituting a sovereign state.[1][2] While "countries" is the commonly used descriptive term,[3] owing to the lack of a formal British constitution, and the protracted and complex history of the formation of the United Kingdom, the countries of the UK have no official appellation. As a consequence, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are not formal subdivisions of the United Kingdom[4] and various terms are used to describe them.
As a sovereign state, the United Kingdom is the entity which is used in intergovernmental organisations, and as the representative member state within the European Union and United Nations, as well as under international law; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are not themselves listed on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) list of countries. However, England, Scotland and Wales have separate national governing bodies for many sports, meaning that they can compete individually in international sporting competitions; in sporting contexts, England, Northern Ireland (or all of Ireland),[5] Scotland and Wales are known as the Home Nations.
The Parliament of the United Kingdom and government of the United Kingdom deal with all reserved matters for Northern Ireland and Scotland and all non-transferred matters for Wales, but not in general on matters that have been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. England remains the full responsibility of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which is centralised in London. Unionism and nationalism play important roles in the politics of the United Kingdom. There is a split in perceptions as to the future of the countries of the UK as under one sovereign power, in a federation, or as independent states.
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are dependencies of the United Kingdom but not part of the UK or of the European Union. Collectively, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are known in UK law as the British Islands. The Republic of Ireland is a sovereign state formed from the portion of Ireland that seceded from the United Kingdom in 1921. Although part of the geographical British Isles,[6] it is no longer a part of the UK. For most sports, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland compete as a single international team representing Ireland (exceptions being Northern Ireland national football team and Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games).
History
Specifications
Name |
Flag | Area (km²) |
Population (2001 census) |
Capital |
Devolved legislature |
Legal system |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | ![]() |
130,395 | 49.1 million | London | No | Combined with Wales |
Northern Ireland |
None | 13,843 | 1.7 million | Belfast | Yes | Separate |
Scotland | ![]() |
78,772 | 5.1 million | Edinburgh | Yes | Separate |
Wales | ![]() |
20,779 | 3.0 million | Cardiff | Yes | Combined with England |
United Kingdom | ![]() |
243,789 | 58.9 million | London |
Terminology
Various terms have been used to describe England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[citation needed]
Acts of Union
- The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 annexed the legal system of Wales to England[7] to create the single entity commonly known today as England and Wales. Wales was described as the "Country, Principality and Dominion", "Dominion of Wales"[7] or the "Dominion, Principality and Country" or "Dominion and Principality" of Wales[8]. Outside of Wales, England was not given a specific name or term.
- The Acts of Union 1707 refer to both England and Scotland as a "Part of the united Kingdom"[9]
- The Acts of Union 1800 use "Part" in the same way. They also use "Country" to describe Great Britain and Ireland respectively, when describing trade between them[10]
- The Government of Ireland Act 1920 does not use any term or description to classify Northern Ireland nor indeed Great Britain.
Current legal terminology
The Interpretation Act 1978 provides some definitions for terms relating the countries of the United Kingdom. Use of these terms in other legislation is interpreted following the definitions in the 1978 Act. The definitions are listed below
- "England" means, subject to any alteration of boundaries under Part IV of the Local Government Act 1972, the area consisting of the counties established by section 1 of that Act, Greater London and the Isles of Scilly." This definition applies from 1 April 1974.
- "United Kingdom" means "Great Britain and Northern Ireland." This definition applies from 12 April 1927.
- "Wales" means the combined area of 13 historic counties,[citation needed] including Monmouthshire, re-formulated into 8 new counties under section 20 of the Local Government Act 1972, as originally enacted, but subject to any alteration made under section 73 of that Act (consequential alteration of boundary following alteration of watercourse). In 1996 these 8 new counties were redistributed into the current 22 unitary authorities.
- In the Scotland Act 1998 there is no delineation of Scotland, with the definition in section 126 simply providing that Scotland includes "so much of the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdom as are adjacent to Scotland".[citation needed]
Identity and nationality
The United Kingdom is generally considered to be a close union by its inhabitants, with shared values, language, currency and culture, and with people moving and working freely throughout.[11] Many citizens of the UK cite "Britain" or "United Kingdom" as their country and "British" as their nationality. Others identify solely with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, while many identify primarily with one of these, but hold a sense of 'Britishness' in equal or high esteem.[12] People with parents and backgrounds of mixed nationality can ally with more than one of the constituent countries. Many people in Northern Ireland strongly identify with being British, and a large minority cite their sole nationality as "Irish", while others identify with both cultures, and others primarily with Northern Ireland itself. UK citizens with ethnic minority backgrounds (especially those descended from the Commonwealth of Nations) can often identify with the nationality of their ancestors, while having (or sharing) a UK identity in any of its strengths or forms.
The propensity for nationalistic feeling varies greatly across the UK, and can rise and fall over time.[13] Following devolution and the significant broadening of autonomous governance throughout the UK in the late 1990s, debate has taken place across the United Kingdom on the relative value of full independence.[14]
Sports
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have a national football team, and compete as separate national teams at the various disciplines in the Commonwealth Games.[15] At the Olympic Games, all the countries of the UK are represented by the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team, although athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to join the Republic of Ireland's Olympic team.[16]. The Republic of Ireland international teams of sports that have no major presence in Northern Ireland normally extend their membership there. [citation needed].
See also
References
- ^ "Countries within a country". 10 Downing Street. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "List of all Sovereign Nations and their Capital Cities". www.nationsonline.org.
- ^ Scottish Parliament. "Your Scotland questions; Is Scotland a country?". scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
As the UK has no written constitution in the usual sense, constitutional terminology is fraught with difficulties of interpretation and it is common usage nowadays to describe the four constituent parts of the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) as "countries".
- ^ United Nations Economic and Social Council (2007). "Ninth United Nations Conference on the standardization of Geographical Names" (PDF). unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
There is [...] no common stratum of administrative unit encompassing the United Kingdom at this very high level, and England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should not be considered first-order administrative divisions in the conventional sense.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "BBC America to Broadcast Live Six Nations Rugby Championship". BBC America. January 21 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Gallagher 2006, p. 7.
- ^ a b Laws in Wales Act 1535, Clause I
- ^ Laws in Wales Act 1542
- ^ e.g. "... to be raised in that Part of the united Kingdom now called England", "...that Part of the united Kingdom now called Scotland, shall be charged by the same Act..." Article IX
- ^ e.g. "That, from the first Day of January one thousand eight hundred and one, all Prohibitions and Bounties on the Export of Articles, the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of either Country, to the other, shall cease and determine; and that the said Articles shall thenceforth be exported from one Country to the other, without Duty or Bounty on such Export"; Union with Ireland Act 1800, Article Sixth.
- ^ "The English question". by Michael Kenny and Richard Hayton, The Institute for Public Policy Research.
- ^ "Why is England or the UK sometimes called Britain?". British Life and Culture. Woodlands Junior School.
- ^ "Devolution, Public Attitudes and National Identity" (PDF). www.devolution.ac.uk. "The rise of the Little Englanders". The Guardian, John Carvel, social affairs editor.
- ^ "Devolution and Britishness". Devolution and Constitutional Change. UK's Economic and Social Research Council.
- ^ World and Its Peoples, Terrytown (NY): Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2010, p. 111,
In most sports, except soccer, Northern Ireland participates with the Republic of Ireland in a combined All-Ireland team.
- ^ "Irish and GB in Olympic Row". BBC Sport. 27 January 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
Bibliography
- Gallagher, Michael (2006), The United Kingdom Today, London: Franklin Watts, ISBN 9780749664886