Introduction -- 1. Theory and Method -- 2. The European Communities Membership Referendum -- 3. The Maastricht Treaty --4. The Treaty of Lisbon --5. Accounting for Change: The Evolution of National Identities -- Conclusion: Post-Lisbon and British National Identity
Summary
"Britain's stormy relationship with the European Union is a frequently cited illustration of a Eurosceptic state par excellence. Possessive of a strong national identity, a unique island status, a plethora of wartime experiences and a tenacious hold over its sovereignty, Britain has long been invested with an 'awkward partner' status. This study seeks to unravel such presuppositions to answer the central research question: How has British national identity been forged and constructed by competing political elite visions of Europe? It patterns Britain's national identity over a number of important historical milestones and brings the debates over Europe up-to-date with an analysis of recent happenings including the referendum on Scottish independence, the global economic crisis and the current crisis in Syria"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-218) and index
