Residual Impact of the Empire

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As decolonisation spread, familiarity with and interest in Empire declined.

British cultural ties to the Empire declined as American culture and trade with Europe both grew.
The celebration of Empire Day was abolished in 1962.
The economic historian, Broadberry (2004) states that the period between 1945 and 1979 was 'associated with the shift of markets away from the Empire towards Europe'.
Tomlinson (2004) says that Britain's economic fortunes were "increasingly linked with the EU and less with the old sterling area".

The UK believed that, as one of the only Western European powers unconquered by Hitler, the Empire had single-handedly defeated Hitler.
Therefore the Empire was framed through fondness as victors over 'evil' in World War Two, rather than framing it through the cost to the millions of people living lives with no self-government and few rights under British rule in the Empire.
Expat communities are still strong in cities like Hong Kong.

British culture was enforced (often violently) in its territories as it was a prevailing view that indigenous languages, customs and religions were savage and uncivilised.
- In particular, this legacy remains in former African colonies where the legacy exists in churches, stations, languages, flags, sport, and even the Last Night of the Proms.
The Anglican Church has more members in Africa than in Britain.
"Muscular Christianity" encouraged the practice of football and rugby as promoting values in concordance with the virtues of the Empire.
- To this day, football remains the national sport of many countries that were part of the British Empire.

British language absorbed some terms from the native languages of states under its control, such as:
- Pyjamas, jungle, and khaki (from India),
- Safari, jazz, zebra, and zombie (from Africa).

The Empire in Popular Culture, 1947-1967

In the post-war period, imperialist rhetoric in British popular culture became less overt but it did not disappear.

Some films began to portray the complexities of decolonisation.
Guns at Batasi (1964) is an exploration of the decolonisation of an unspecified British Colony in Africa. It tracks the country's transition to independence and the rifts in its post-colonial political system.
Typical of films of this period, British characters are central to the narrative. The main character is the British officer who has been charged with overseeing the political transition.

Comics–Eagle (1950-69):
- These children's comics were produced by Marcus Morris. Morris was a vicar in the Church of England.
Fed up with the messages in children's literature of the period, he decided to make his own comic which would better promote good morals to children.
He tried to challenge racial prejudice by making sure the comics did not fall into traditional literary tropes of villainising foreigners.
He also promoted diversity in his comics, ensuring there was always at least one ethnic minority character.

'That was the week, that was’ was launched in the early 60s and provided a satirical critique of British society and its 'establishment' attitudes.
- Satirical sketches, monologues and discussions attacked contemporary political figures and lampooned a variety of targets including the British Empire.
However, some shows ridiculed immigrant communities.
- e.g. ‘Till Death us Do Part’ (1965-1975) was a BBC1 series that featured a racist, right-wing character called Alf Garnett. Whilst the creators claimed the sitcom was satirical, there was public outcry over the extremely racist content of some episodes.

Angry Young Men
- This theatrical genre was developed by British playwrights in the 1950s.
Their work tapped into the feelings of a generation of young people who were disillusioned with society.
The plays were about young, white, working-class men who were conflicted by the opportunities presented to them by social mobility and their grammar school education.
This genre also extended to novels, such as John Braine's Room at the Top (1957) which sold 34,000 hardback copies within a year of publication.