Following Brexit and the earlier referendum on Scottish independence, the debate about British identity has been given recent new prominence. Historically conceived to integrate conflicting nationalisms in an тАЬever more perfect union,тАЭ Britain has lately succumbed to particular resurgent nationalisms in a curious reversal of fortune.
With These Islands, Ali M. Ansari considers the idea of Britain as a political entity. This idea of Britain considers some nationalists as suppressed minorities in need of attention, and others as bigoted throwbacks to a more divisive age. Arguing the case for Great Britain from the perspective of the political mythology of the British stateтАФwith an emphasis on culture, ideas and narrative constructionsтАФAnsari makes the claim that BritainтАЩs strength lies in its ability to shape the popular imagination, both at home and abroad. He concludes that an тАЬexcess of enthusiasmтАЭ may yet do untold damage to the fabric of a state and society that has been carefully constructed over the centuries and may not be easily repaired.