Who Ate All The Pride? National Football Support and English National Identity

When?

Monday 12 March 2007

Where?

University of Surrey

Open to:

Public, Staff, Students

Speaker:

Dr Jackie Abell

Dr Jackie Abell, Psychology Department, Lancaster University

With the advent of devolution, it has been suggested by media and academics that the marked rise in support for the England football team, as indicated by the growing popularity of English national insignia amongst the population during an international football tournament, reflects an increase in a collective feeling of national identity amongst the English. Whereas previously symbols of Englishness, such as the cross of St George were thought to represent a sinister form of nationalism that was exclusionary, it has been suggested that a new benign and inclusive English national identity has emerged. This runs contrary to commentators fear that the establishment of a separate Scottish parliament would awaken a dormant sense of English national identity, which might in turn lead to demands for a political voice.  Previously, in a football context, the hooligan stereotype has in part been attributed to a tradition of moral panic discourse relating to popular nationalism in England. Against these apocalyptic images, it has been debated that a more benign popular English identity might arise and supplant the xenophobic hooligan stereotype, and as such support for the England football team has proved to be of specific interest. However, so far, this commentary has remained speculative. Thus, we examined the link between football support for the England national team, and claims of national identity using interview data collected in England around the time of the Euro 2000, and the World Cup 2002 tournaments.  This paper not only has implications for what we treat as evidence of a display of patriotism, but also for social psychology's understanding of the concept of 'national identity'.