Nationalism and religion in 20th Century Britain

Abstract

The so called “Imperial nationalism” disguised the tensions within British society, which were revealed when Irish, Scottish and Welsh nationalism forcefully began to emerge in the late 60s of the 20th century. As will be seen, tendencies of a break-up could be detected much earlier, a fact closely linked to the religious and ethnic landscape of the British Isles. During large parts of the 20th century, however, the stability of Great Britain and her nationalism seemed to be guaranteed – a treacherous assumption that was torn into pieces in the last quarter of this very century.