historical reference frames of british culture & civilization curs 5

7/23/2019 Historical Reference Frames of British Culture & Civilization CURS 5

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THE EMPIRE & THE COMMONWEALTH, THE

EUROPEAN UNION, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND &

NORTHERN IRELAND

1. The empire and Cmmn!ea"#h


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The Bri#i$h Empire was gradually built up over 4 centuries from the 16 th

century.

The British colonization began in:

- orth ! "outh #merica

- #frica$ #sia ! the %est &ndies.

'migrants from Britain settled in colonies such as the ("#$ #ustralia$

)anada$ "outh #frica ! ew *ealand.

By the 1+th century$ British imperial rule ! possessions embraced a

,uarter of the worlds population.


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&n the late 1+th! early /th centuries large colonies such as:

- )anada$ #ustralia$ ew *ealand ! "outh #frica

Became self-governing dominions ! eventually achieved

independence.

0any of their peoples were descendants of those settlers who

had emigrated from Britain in earlier centuries.

They regarded Britain as the mother country ! nurtured a

shared 2inship.


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1%1the British 'mpire became the British )ommonwealth of ations !

independence was gradually granted to other colonies.

1%'(&ndia ! 3a2istan became independent.

1%)*$and 1+6/s #frican territories became independent

0any islands of the %est &ndies became later independent.

The colonies could choose whether to brea2 all connections with the

colonial past or remain within the )ommonwealth as independent nations.

0ost of them decided to stay in the )ommonwealth.


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The pre$en# Cmmn!ea"#h a voluntary association of 5

independent states 7including Britain8.

&t does not have:

- written laws

- an elected 3arliament

- one political ruler.

There is evidence of past colonial rule in many of the countries:

- in education

- in legal system.


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The )ommonwealth

- has nearly 19 of the worlds population.

- comprises peoples of different religions$ races !

nationalities

They share a history of struggles for independence from

colonialism.

The )ommonwealth a family of nations.

7occasionally there are wars$ tensions and ,uarrels between these

family members8.


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The British monarch

- is its non-political head

- has varying constitutional rules in the different countries

- is a focal point of identification- has an important unifying ! symbolic function

as 2ept the )ommonwealth together in times of crisis !

conflict.


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The 3rime 0inisters 7or heads of state8 in )ommonwealth

countries meet every years under the auspices of the monarch

for )ommonwealth )onferences in different parts of the world.

&n ;ondon there is a )ommonwealth "ecretariat which

coordinates policy for the )ommonwealth$ in addition to many

)ommonwealth societies$ institutes$ libraries$ professional

associations ! university e


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)ommonwealth citizens still travel to Britain as immigrants$

students and visitors.

British emigration to )ommonwealth countries continues inreduced amounts.

'nglish remains the common language of the )ommonwealth

The )ommonwealth =ames 7athletics ! other sports8 are held

every 4 years.


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There are many >oint British9)ommonwealth programmes in:

- agriculture

- engineering

- health- education

British attempts to enter 'urope from the 1+6/s reduced the

importance to Britain of the organization.There is no longer the old sense of )ommonwealth solidarity and

purpose ! Britain has little in common with some )ommonwealth

nations.


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THE EUROPEAN UNION +EU

The ideal of a united 'urope$ strong in economic ! political

institutions$ became increasingly attractive to some 'uropean

statesmen after the "econd %orld %ar 71++-1+458.

1%)( were established the foundations for more integrated

'urope when 6 countries 7%est =ermany$ Arance$ Belgium$ the

etherlands$ ;u


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1%23 the member-states formed an internal or "ingle 'uropean

0ar2et$ in which goods$ services$ people ! capital could

move freely across national frontiers within what was then

called the 'uropean )ommunity.

4**' 5+C of British e


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The 'uropean )ouncil consists of government leaders who meet

several times a year to discuss ! agree on broad areas of policy.

The )ouncil of 0inisters is the principal policy-implementingand law-initiating body. &t is composed of Aoreign 0inisters from

the member states.

The )ommission 7under an appointed 3resident8 the centraladministrative force of the '($ proposing programmes and policy

to the )ouncil of 0inisters


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The 'uropean 3arliament 7in which Britain has ?E seats8 is

directly elected for a 5-year term on a party political basis from

the '(-wide electorate.

&t advices the )ouncil of 0inisters on )ommission proposals

&t determines the '( budget

&t e


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The )ourt of Dustice comprises appointed >udges from the

member states.

&t interprets '( laws ! treaties&t settles disputes concerning '( law

&t resolves conflicts between member-states and the '(.


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&n Britain all the ma>or political parties are pro-'uropean in the

sense of wanting to be in 'urope$ although there are opposition

groups in the ;abour ! )onservative parties.

The ;abour government:

wanted a strong 'urope in which Britain could play a central

role

was in favour of Britain entering the 'uropean commoncurrency 7euro8

proposed a common defence ! foreign policy for the '(.


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Arom 1+?$ responsibility for orthern &reland rested with the

British government in ;ondon 7direct rule8 after the orthern

&reland 3arliament was suspended.

There was little agreement with views including

'thnic

eligious

3olitical'conomic reasons


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The epublic of &reland

had to ma2e some concessions as the price for the agreement

was given a significant role to play in the resolution of the

orthern &rish situation.


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"inn Aein ! the

are committed to a united &reland and

argue that a ma>ority of all people 7orthern &reland ! theepublic of &reland8 must consent to any eventual proposed

solution.


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Fpinion polls in recent years indicate

# weariness by a ma>ority of the mainland British population with

both sides in orthern &reland.

they are in favour of &rish unification

they do not accept the ;abour governments strategy of British

withdrawal only with the consent of the ma>ority in orthern &reland.

# 0F& poll of people in main land Britain found that 6C ofrespondents believed that orthern &reland should remain in the (G

and 41C believed that the province should reunite with the epublic of

&reland.

historical reference frames of british culture & civilization curs 5

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