Devolution and Identity

The identity implications have been overlooked from discussions on devolution, which have tended to focus on constitutional, legal and financial issues. In this volume, contributors from the communities under discussion explore the ways in which devolution is experienced and understood by citizens from the devolved regions of the UK. The additional inclusion of a US perspective allows parallels with American federalism to be drawn out. Informed by a discursive/textual/communication approach to identity, Devolution and Identity offers a range of theoretical and empirical perspectives, including both macro- and micro-level analyses of devolution and identity processes. Themes covered include discourse and interaction, national identity, flags and emblems, gender representation, newspaper letters, regional marketing, language ideology, history and culture, artistic practice, minority identities and political ideology. In exploring the impact of the devolution process on both individual and group identities, this book provides a richer understanding of the devolution process itself, as well as a new understanding of the relationship between socio-political structures and identity.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; Identity categories in use: Britishness, devolution, and the Ulster Scots identity in Northern Ireland, John Wilson and Karyn Stapleton; Ideologies of language and community in post-devolution Wales, Nikolas Coupland and Hywel Bishop; Vernacular constructions of 'national identity' in post-devolution Scotland and England, Susan Condor and Jackie Abell; Artists, Wales, narrative and devolution, William Housley; New colours for the Orange State: finding symbolic space in a newly devolved Northern Ireland, Dominic Bryan; Categorisation, accounts and motives: 'letters-to-the-editor' and devolution in Wales, Richard Fitzgerald and William Housley; 'Fantasy echo' and modern Britishness: commemoration and identity in Northern Ireland, Carol-Ann Barnes and Arthur Aughey; Engendering devolution, Carmel Roulston; Marketing identities in devolved regions: the role of global corporate culture in Scotland and Wallonia, Sharon Millar; 'Dire deeds awake, Dark is it eastward': citizenship and devolution, and the British National Party, David Irwin; Epilogue: in the context of devolution, Gerry Philipsen; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
John Wilson is Professor of Communication at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland. He is presently seconded to the School of History and International Affairs as Director of the Institute of Ulster Scots Studies. Karyn Stapleton is Research Associate in Discourse Analysis at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland. She is presently based in the School of History and International Affairs.

Review :
’Conceived as an agenda-setting, open-format debate, the book provides rich discourse-evidenced arguments on a range of thematics at a comparative level - which only an edited volume can aspire to achieve. These arguments certainly deserve to reach a wider readership, including the public, the policy makers and the politicians.’ Srikant Sarangi, Cardiff University, UK ’This is a valuable collection in bringing to the fore questions of changing identities in the devolution process, and issues of experience and understanding of that process on the ground within the devolved regions.’ European Journal of Communication ’An engaging if also eclectic mix of articles about devolution in the United Kingdom, Devolution and Identity provides a rich window on issues swirling around the contemporary devolution process in the UK. It is an important read for those interested in devolution in the UK - and for those interested in processes of deterritorialization the world over.’ Journal of Sociololinguistics 'In this growing literature on devolution and identity, this collection of essays is a welcome addition to the genre.' Scottish Affairs 'Shirlow and McEvoy draw on over two years of extensive surveys, focus groups and interviews with former prisoners in North and West Belfast...This timely research is critical to furthering our understanding of the often theoretically misunderstood field of conflict transformation from a practice perspective. It provides an excellent insight into one of the more controversial aspects of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement...this carefully researched and well-written book is recommended not only to those interested in conflict transformation but also as necessary reading for those charged with progressing conflict transformation processes here and elsewhere.' Political Studies Review