No longer a United Kingdom: the history and
politics of Britain’s identity crisis
Political Science and Public Policy Programmes
in conjunction with the School of Social Sciences
When:
Where:
Tuesday 15 September, 6.00pm
S1.04 (S Block, First Floor, University of Waikato)
Abstract: The general election of May 2015 revealed a country more divided about its national identity and
destiny than at any time since the rise of Irish nationalism over a century earlier. Each of the four nations of the
United Kingdom is dominated by a different party; the winners of the election, the Conservatives, have a
significant presence only in England. They must resolve in short order two existential crises, the prospect of an
independent Scotland and of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. By the next election in 2020
the ‘United Kingdom’ may be unrecognisable. Why is one of history’s most successful political unions under
threat? What might be done to restore it?
Presenter Bio: Sir Ivor Crewe was elected Master of University College, Oxford in 2008. He was Vice Chancellor
of the University of Essex from 1995 to 2007, following spells as Pro Vice Chancellor Academic, founding Director
of the Institute of Social and Economic Research and Head of the Department of Government. He is currently a
governor of the European University Institute in Florence, the School of Oriental and African Studies and the
University of the Arts London. Sir Ivor’s academic work focuses on British politics. He has written extensively on
elections, public opinion and party politics in the UK. His books include Decade of Dealignment) and SDP: The
Birth, Life and Death of the Social Democratic Party. In 2013 he published as co-author with Anthony King The
Blunders of our Governments.
You are welcome to join us for light refreshments from 5.30pm outside S1.04
For more information, please contact Dr Patrick Barrett at [email protected]