1. Can Britishness resist the economic crisis? Arthur Aughey University of Ulster

2. Why is this a question at all? A number of assumptions: A number of assumptions: of fragility of fragility of the artificiality of Britishness of the artificiality of Britishness of the distinctively instrumental nature of Britishness of the distinctively instrumental nature of Britishness of expectation of the end of expectation of the end

3. Particular functional question Alan Trench: (State of the Nations 2008) Alan Trench: (State of the Nations 2008) What is the United Kingdom for in the 21 st century?What is the United Kingdom for in the 21 st century? Why is this an urgent question? Why is this an urgent question? the United Kingdom today has reached the point where the instrumental underpinning of the Union has started to dissipate, and to the extent that it remains it does not attract support for the UK. the United Kingdom today has reached the point where the instrumental underpinning of the Union has started to dissipate, and to the extent that it remains it does not attract support for the UK.

4. State of the Union Thesis of McLean and McMillan State of the Union (2006). Distinction between: Thesis of McLean and McMillan State of the Union (2006). Distinction between: Primordial Unionism – UK as an end in itself and: Primordial Unionism – UK as an end in itself and: Instrumental Unionism – UK as a means to an end (welfare, prosperity, security) Instrumental Unionism – UK as a means to an end (welfare, prosperity, security)

5. Primordial always suffered from deep intellectual incoherence.always suffered from deep intellectual incoherence. Historically, that incoherence was masked by its usefulness to politicians and its popular appeal Historically, that incoherence was masked by its usefulness to politicians and its popular appeal This has now become exhausted (Northern Ireland as the final redoubt) This has now become exhausted (Northern Ireland as the final redoubt) The question is: can the union state survive without unionism? The question is: can the union state survive without unionism?

6. Instrumental Utilitarian: UK is good if has good consequences Utilitarian: UK is good if has good consequences McLean and McMillan assume it is increasingly difficult to sell the UK instrumentally McLean and McMillan assume it is increasingly difficult to sell the UK instrumentally Every crisis of consequence – like the present one – weakens the value of the UKs diminishing stock Every crisis of consequence – like the present one – weakens the value of the UKs diminishing stock

7. Project Discourse Familiar trope: the UK as a project: Familiar trope: the UK as a project: linked to some external purpose – Empire linked to some external purpose – Empire which secured an internal purpose or purposes – stability/welfare which secured an internal purpose or purposes – stability/welfare David Marquand (The New Reckoning 1997): David Marquand (The New Reckoning 1997): Empire was not an optional extra for the British; it was their reason for being British as opposed to English, Scots or Welsh.Empire was not an optional extra for the British; it was their reason for being British as opposed to English, Scots or Welsh. Ending leaves bloodless, historyless, affectless institutions of the United Kingdom Ending leaves bloodless, historyless, affectless institutions of the United Kingdom

8. Reflections on a British revolution? The state as: a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico, or tobacco, or some other low concern, to be taken up for a little temporary interest, and to be dissolved by the fancy of the partners (Edmund Burke). The state as: a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico, or tobacco, or some other low concern, to be taken up for a little temporary interest, and to be dissolved by the fancy of the partners (Edmund Burke). Endism: UK is a failed project, no longer delivering the benefits, lacking civil authority, a partnership in the process of liquidation Endism: UK is a failed project, no longer delivering the benefits, lacking civil authority, a partnership in the process of liquidation

9. Another perspective Oakeshott (On Human Conduct 1975) Oakeshott (On Human Conduct 1975) State as an enterprise association - business-like estimate that the enterprise is instrumental to individual and collective welfare (terminates when project ends) eg, UK plc as instrumental Unionism State as an enterprise association - business-like estimate that the enterprise is instrumental to individual and collective welfare (terminates when project ends) eg, UK plc as instrumental Unionism State as civil association – not primordial in the pejorative sense in McLean and McMillan, eg as Last Night of the Proms or as the identity of Ulster Unionism State as civil association – not primordial in the pejorative sense in McLean and McMillan, eg as Last Night of the Proms or as the identity of Ulster Unionism

10. Civil association not concerned with: not concerned with: any particular project any particular project not dissolved by that projects ending not dissolved by that projects ending not defined by any single purpose not defined by any single purpose Citizens are related in their recognition of the authority and legitimacy of the association Citizens are related in their recognition of the authority and legitimacy of the association

11. Different question Neither: what is the United Kingdom for? Neither: what is the United Kingdom for? Nor Can it resist the economic crisis? Nor Can it resist the economic crisis? But What sustains the (continuing) authority and legitimacy of the UK? But What sustains the (continuing) authority and legitimacy of the UK?

12. The Fifth nation? How can the UK act as a unitary state notwithstanding its multinational composition? How can the UK act as a unitary state notwithstanding its multinational composition? Madgwick and Rose (1982) thought that the United Kingdom is a fifth nation in Westminster Madgwick and Rose (1982) thought that the United Kingdom is a fifth nation in Westminster This idea of the fifth nation – the civil association within which territorial politics and economic crises are managed – still makes sense This idea of the fifth nation – the civil association within which territorial politics and economic crises are managed – still makes sense

13. Conclusion Vernon Bogdanor The New British Constitution (2009) Vernon Bogdanor The New British Constitution (2009) Criterion of Britishness is simple: wishing to be represented in UK Parliament at Westminster and voting for parties which favour that Criterion of Britishness is simple: wishing to be represented in UK Parliament at Westminster and voting for parties which favour that Britain is less of an artificial or imagined construct and British loyalty is more organic and primordial than many commentators have suggestedBritain is less of an artificial or imagined construct and British loyalty is more organic and primordial than many commentators have suggested