Dear Members,

At present, I am looking after a member of my family who is sick, so I hope that you will forgive me for answering late.

Diana, �Babystudent�, asked a question the other day regarding �The Telegraph� newspaper article which investigated �Britishness� --- the �identity� of the British people --- and compared the USA and Britain in this respect.

Babystudent

�Britain �s historical identity has been produced by accretion, subtle accommodation and fudge: to define it is impossible because it has had no consistent conscious intent�.

Britain�s �historical identity� --- it�s identity from a historical viewpoint --- has evolved due to a combination of factors.

It�s �identity� is its �character�, its �individuality�, its �distinctiveness�.  It is a description of the characteristics which make Britain unique, and unlike any other land.  These peculiarities can be traced back to their roots in history.

Britain�s �identity� is what makes Britain, BRITAIN!

Historically, however, Britain did NOT grow geographically, politically and economically in accordance with some carefully constructed Great Plan, prepared, detailed, and executed in precise order.

On the contrary, Britain developed by a process of accretion; subtle accommodation; and fudge --- Britain developed by progressively increasing its territory; by strategic compromise; and by equivocation.  

The Celts of the British Isles fought among themselves for superiority.  There followed many conflicts, with the Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Norse, Danes, and finally the Normans from France.

During these times, territory was lost and gained; alliances were formed and re-formed; and treaties were made and broken.  Gradually, the lesser languages began to disappear from Britain, and one merged language was given precedence --- Modern English.

There was an accretion of land --- a gradual accumulation of territory.  England steadily acquired more land within Britain by a variety of means, and became �The United Kingdom�.

It also gained overseas territories by exploration, discoveries, colonisation, wars, purchases, exchanges, and general territorial expansion.  Sometimes these lands were joined to the United Kingdom by Acts of Union, sometimes by agreement, sometimes by force, sometimes by accident, and sometimes by subterfuge.

There were �subtle accommodations�.  These were convenient arrangements, settlements, or compromises between Britain and another power, in which each hoped to gain an advantage.  There was possibly some subtle clause in the agreement which became evident at a later date; or the text of the agreement was deliberately imprecise; or the underlying intention of the agreement was known to the two signatories, but was unwritten.  Each side �accommodated� the other, obliged the other, fitted in with the needs or wishes of the other, because it was politically, or economically, or territorially advantageous to do so.  The modern expression is: �You scratch my back and I�ll scratch yours!�    

Finally, sometimes the result was �a fudge�, where there was neither a clear decision in one direction, nor in the other direction.  Sometimes, it was handled in this vague manner so as to mislead, or to conceal the truth.  This was often done in an attempt to �keep everyone happy�.  It had to be fudged, and to be unclear, or to be ambiguous, because if every condition had been clearly described for the whole world to see, one side or the other would have refused to sign the document.

This developing process never had any specific objective, or ultimate goal, or precisely planned end.  Because it evolved in a haphazard, random, unplanned manner, there was no conscious, deliberate effort to influence the conclusion.

The development of Britain, its people, its language and its economy depended on a complicated mix of numerous factors which have affected its place in history.

Geographically, it is a group of islands off Europe with numerous sea-ports facing north, south, east, and west.  These enabled the British fleets to fish; to trade; to attack and defend; to voyage; to explore, to discover, to conquer and to colonise new territories.  Over the years, the number of British territories has increased and then decreased.  The one-time �British Empire�, in which Britain was predominant, was long ago replaced by the �Commonwealth of Nations�, in which every nation has equal status.

Its people are of diverse cultures.  Over the centuries, their numbers have been increased by immigration, colonisation, influx of refugees, and by political alliances.  The population included important figures in the world of literature, art, science, medicine, politics, and industry.  Many of these British people travelled widely and exerted great influence on the world.  However, equally, many oversees people have come to Britain, adopted British nationality, and have subsequently influenced British life.  

English was, initially, a minor, unimportant language.  However, with the gradual decline in the use of Latin; the invention of printing; and the increase and expansion of British territories overseas; English spread around the world.  Now, however, English in these territories is changing its characteristics.  There is British English, but there is also Australian English, American English, Indian English, etc.  The wheel is turning. 

Finally, Britain has played a constantly changing role in world economics.  At first it was commercial, then it was industrial, and finally it was financial.  Now, because of changed world circumstances, it is a combination of all three.

For these reasons, it is impossible to say: �Here is a clear definition of Britain�s historical identity�.

I hope that this helps.

Les