The St. George’s flag is springing up around England. Is it a symbol of proud patriotism or weaponized nationalism? Professor Michael Kenny discusses his research.
Professor Michael Kenny, Head of the Bennett School of Public Policy and author of The Politics of English Nationhood, discusses national identity in the English context as becoming “a political battleground”.
“There is still a sense among many people that Englishness and its iconography are not welcomed or approved by British institutions and local authorities.
“That sense of disapproval, and the feeling that by flying the flag you are defying the norms of the governing system, is what makes it attractive to people wishing to signal feelings of disenchantment and frustration on issues like immigration.”
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Michael Kenny, Bennett School of Public Policy
CNN, The why curve (podcast)
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy.
