English nationalism, Brexit and the Anglosphere: Wider still and wider

by Ben Wellings

This is the first book to examine the relationship between English nationalism, Brexit and ‘the Anglosphere’ – a politically-contested term used to denote English-speaking countries sharing cultural and historical roots with the UK.

In the aftermath of the UK’s EU referendum some pointed to a ‘revolt’ of those ‘left behind’ by globalisation. Ben Wellings argues instead that Brexit was and is an elite project, firmly situated within the tradition of an expansive English nationalism. Far from being parochial ‘Little Englanders’, elite Brexiteers sought to replace the European Union with trade and security alliances between ‘true friends’ and ‘traditional allies’ in the Anglosphere. Brexit was thus reassuringly presented as a giant leap into the known. As the UK’s future relationship with the rest of the world is negotiated, the need to understand this ‘English moment’ has never been more pressing.

232 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Lothario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good analysis on the English question and the blurring of English and british nationalism distinct to that of Scottish, Welsh and Irish variants which are secessionist in nature. Ben shows how the English are a group without representation yet have tried to find an identity as British, parliamentary democracy, rule of law and the development of the anglopshere and commonwealth. This the English question is yet to be answered and this will be the case for some time to come