How to Be a Patriot: Why love of country can end our very British culture war

by Sunder Katwala

How to be a Patriot offers a new way of understanding our collective identity in a country wracked by division and brimming with markers of selfhood – faith, race, gender, age, sexuality. Sunder Katwala himself grew up with some questions to work through. As a half-Indian, Irish Catholic child of the NHS, the chequered history of post-imperial Britain seemed very personal to him, but he realised that with that background he could hardly be anything but British, and proud of it too. His timely and clear-eyed analysis seeks to navigate the many crises of this increasingly disunited extremism and integration after 7/7; fear of immigration and the deep divides of Brexit; the resurgence of online racism; and the debate over our cultural heritage. Equipped with a nuanced understanding of the subject and a wealth of supporting data, he sets out to foster a more open and tolerant one that welcomes alternative ideas and cultures rather than shutting them out. Ultimately, How to be a Patriot is a rousing story of lives lived together and shared values. Far from being divisive, it concludes, an inclusive and confident patriotism is a reminder that our differences need not define us.

Genres: Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[YW · Rating 4 out of 5]

An illuminating read on British identity and minority history. It makes an excellent case for inclusive patriotism, respectful disagreements and optimism. It advocates for these causes through a compelling national and personal narrative. As someone new to British history, I found the book to be very educational and thought-provoking.

I really hope that Katwala writes a sequel to this with a stronger focus on the execution of inclusive patriotism. The book focuses more on the "why" rather than the "how" of the concept. I found myself questioning whether some of the ideas were a bit too idealistic. Considering Katwala's expertise, I doubt he would be peddling ideas with no chance of practical execution. Hence, I would love for him to elaborate more on specific policies and government measures for his vision (admittedly he did so a bit of that in the last chapter).

I disagreed with some of his observations on American politics. As Katwala himself brilliantly points out, the ethnic minorities in the two countries have different histories and cultures, so measures to address racial cohesion would naturally differ in the two places. Thus, I disagreed with some of his criticism of the divisive American progressivism, as I see the latter as an inevitable and somewhat necessary response to the national context. That said, it is entirely possible that I do not understand his entire view on this topic, as it is only tangentially referenced in the book and not the focus.

[Nath Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly nuanced and convincing narrative from Irish–Indian Brit Sunder Katwala. He explores how the monarchy, particularly in the 21st century, can act as a bridge between left and right, how football fandom can reveal shared ground in difficult moments, and how the language we use in culture wars might shift towards something less antagonistic.

I’m not entirely sold on his argument about the monarchy, but it’s a fresh, considered perspective that I’ll keep thinking about. His reflections on cultural appropriation, identity, and where we choose to draw cultural boundaries are especially strong, made all the more compelling through his own family’s experiences of heritage, race, and belonging.

Despite touching on weighty themes including Islamophobia, the Troubles, and contemporary culture wars, the book remains accessible. Its diaristic tone keeps the writing breezy without sacrificing depth. An insightful and powerful read.

[Jack Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not being British but having spent a lot of time in various parts of it and having friends and family there, this topic interested me a lot. But after reading this book, I found that I was worried about Katwala's vision for the future. He seems to be preaching for an incredibly watered down idea of being British, a more civil identity rather than one that comes from the history and the culture of the country. To me this seems to be asking Britain to give up its identity to end a culture war.

[Mark Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fits very well with the future of Brian that I share with the the author. Sunder is able to mold together our traditions and our diverse selves together to make a sort of patriotisms that we can all share and feel proud of.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough, with lots of memoir from a man who (can you guess by the name) is of Irish-Indian descent. Plenty of think-tankery, as to be expected from the head of British Future, but a useful way in to a difficult debate. Monarchy, race and Empire all feature.