English Nationalism and its Ghost Towns

TELFORD, Luke (2022) English Nationalism and its Ghost Towns. Routledge. ISBN 9781032056715

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Abstract or description

In order to understand today’s nationalism, we need to address the historical decline of working-class communities, the sense of loss brought by deindustrialisation and how working-class people have been denied a voice in society and politics. Discontent has manifested strongly in these deprived post-industrial areas, often branded as communities that have been left behind under neoliberal globalisation. Whilst more and more people are voicing their discontent with a system that fails to provide social security and economic stability, many researchers have branded them merely as racists, xenophobes and ill educated. Although prejudices are likely to play a part in all political outcomes, today’s dissatisfaction across the West cannot be reduced to mere emotion and intolerance.

This book therefore utilises on-the-ground research with working-class individuals in a Leave voting locale in Britain, exploring their discontent with politicians, the Labour Party, the European Union, immigration, refugees and the prolonged calls for a second referendum. It situates this sentiment towards society and politics within the decline of capitalism's post-war era and the loss of well-paid industrial jobs, increase in non-unionised service employment and the hollowing out of community spirit.

Item Type:	Book / Proceeding
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in English Nationalism and its Ghost Towns on 19 May 2022, available online: http://www.routledge.com/9781032056715
Faculty:	School of Law, Policing and Forensics > Sociology, Criminology and Terrorism
Depositing User:	Luke TELFORD
Date Deposited:	06 Jun 2022 10:59
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 01:38
URI:	https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/7330

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