Nationality
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 3.3.10
Nationality and Socialisation
A national identity is when people identify themselves with a nation, its customs, traditions and people.
Nationality
- Nationality refers to the rights and responsibilities attached to being a citizen of a nation and is usually attached to place of birth, marriage or socialisation.
- A national identity is when people identify themselves with a nation, its customs, traditions and people.
Nationality and socialisation
- A national identity forms and passes on between generations via agencies of socialisation in a number of ways including:
- The family.
- The educational system.
- The media.
The family
- The family is where, during socialisation, people learn a common language and norms and values.
The education system
- The education system teaches citizenship, language, literature and history, as well as an understanding and respect for national values.
The media
- The media gives higher priority to national news and lower priority to foreign news, and celebrates national sporting events, rituals and ceremonies, including royal weddings and funerals.
Nationality as a Source of Identity
Nationality as a source of identity is fragmenting and the British national identity is weaker than it once was.
British national culture
- It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify a specific British national culture shared by all citizens, beyond that of:
- Common language.
- Holding citizenship.
- Respecting the country’s laws and institutions.
- A few national symbols, such as the King and the Union flag.
History
- It is increasingly difficult to identify a history that is shared by all Britons.
National identities within the UK
- There is a declining number of people identifying themselves as ‘British,’ and it is becoming more common for people to identify themselves as English, Scottish or Welsh.
- The growth of national identities within the UK has led to the formation of elected Assemblies for Wales and Northern Ireland.
Test yourself on Nationality
Which agency of socialisation teaches citizenship, language, literature and history, as well as an understanding and respect for national values?