Brexitland : identity, diversity and the reshaping of British politics

Long-term social and demographic changes - and the conflicts they create - continue to transform British politics. In this accessible and authoritative book Sobolewska and Ford show how deep the roots of this polarisation and volatility run, drawing out decades of educational expansion and rising ethnic diversity as key drivers in the emergence of new divides within the British electorate over immigration, identity and diversity. They argue that choices made by political parties from the New Labour era onwards have mobilised these divisions into politics, first through conflicts over immigration, then through conflicts over the European Union, culminating in the 2016 EU referendum. Providing a comprehensive and far-reaching view of a country in turmoil, Brexitland explains how and why this happened, for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to better understand the remarkable political times in which we live.ISBN : 9781108473576 Cover Half-title Reviews Title page Copyright information Contents List of figures and tables Acknowledgements 1 Introduction: How Britain Became Brexitland Brexit is not Year Zero Part I Demographic change and the emergence of new political divides over identity Part II Identity conflicts from New Labour to the Coalition Part III Brexitland Inevitable limitations and omissions Conclusion Part I Demographic change and the emergence of new political divides over identity 2 Social Change, Ethnocentrism and the Emergence of New Identity Divides Introduction Education: university expansion and the rise of the graduate class Racial diversity and immigration: the rise of multiracial Britain Ethnocentrism: how educational and ethnic divides translate into political conflicts From demographic change to political conflict: conviction liberals, necessity liberals and identity conservatives Educational expansion and the rise of conviction liberals Ethnic diversity and necessity liberal ethnic minorities Decline and backlash: identity conservatives Identity polarisation: generations and geography From demographic change to political change: is demography destiny? 3 Divided Over Diversity: Identity Conservatives And Identity Liberals Introduction Identity conservatives: ethnocentrism as a political agenda Graduate conviction liberals: social norms and the politics of anti-racism Ethnic minority necessity liberals: discrimination, linked fate and strategic alliances Why identity conflicts are polarising: a clash of social norms Conclusion 4 Legacies of Empire: Commonwealth Immigration and the Historical Roots of Identity Politics Divides Introduction The origins of the first wave: the entanglement of citizenship and Empire Public opposition to migration in the first wave The elite-mass divide on immigration in the first wave The political activation of ethnocentrism: Enoch Powell and 'Rivers of Blood' After Powell: the consolidation of an identity politics divide Mobilisation on the left: entrenching anti-racism norms Conclusion: why did liberal immigration policies persist for so long? Part II Identity conflicts from New Labour to the Coalition 5 The Long Divorce: Parties and Voters Parting Ways Introduction Parties leaving voters: centralisation and professionalisation Voters leaving parties: de-alignment and disengagement A flag to rally around: the second wave of immigration and the activation of identity politics Ethnocentric activation: how immigration mobilised identity divides into politics Conclusion 6 The Identity Conservative Insurgency and the Rise of UKIP Introduction Riding on reputation: the Conservatives and immigration under New Labour Early warning signs: the BNP and UKIP under New Labour Betrayal: the failure of the immigration pledge and the opening of the electoral market Mobilising the backlash: UKIP during the Coalition Hijacking the agenda: UKIP's impact on the Conservatives Conclusion: how UKIP changed politics without winning at Westminster 7 Change without Recovery: How the Coalition Catalysed Labour's Demographic Transformation Introduction Red to purple: UKIP's challenge to Labour during the Coalition The Liberal Democrats' collapse and Labour's consolidation of white graduates The past versus the future: the geographical conundrum created by Labour's changing electoral coalition A more demanding electorate? Conclusion Part III Brexitland 8 Brexitland Awakened: Identity Politics and the EU Referendum Introduction Setting up the storm: the 2015 general election Framing the choice: the referendum campaign Brexitland awakens: identity divides and 2016 vote choices Two tribes go to war: the emergence of Brexit political identities Conclusion 9 Dancing to a Different Tune: Identity Politics and Political Change in Scotland, 2007-19 Introduction The demographic roots of 'exit' politics: Scotland and England compared Mobilising support for the exit option Why 'Yes' failed but 'Leave' succeeded Two stones thrown in the pond: the impact of two referendums in quick succession Conclusion 10 Brexitland after Brexit: The Electoral Fallout from the EU Referendum Introduction A Brexit re-alignment? Identity conflicts in the 2017 and 2019 elections The ghosts of elections past: reputations and temptations Paths through Brexitland: three scenarios for the future of British politics Conclusion: unstable coalitions, uncertain outcomes 11 Conclusion: The New Politics of Brexitland The road to Brexitland Global Brexitland Identity conflicts beyond party politics The future study of identity politics What next for Brexitland? Bibliography Index Cover -- Half-title -- Reviews -- Title Page -- Copyright Information -- Contents -- List Of Figures And Tables -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction: How Britain Became Brexitland -- Brexit Is Not Year Zero -- Part I Demographic Change And The Emergence Of New Political Divides Over Identity -- Part Ii Identity Conflicts From New Labour To The Coalition -- Part Iii Brexitland -- Inevitable Limitations And Omissions -- Conclusion -- Part I Demographic Change And The Emergence Of New Political Divides Over Identity -- 2 Social Change, Ethnocentrism And The Emergence Of New Identity Divides Introduction -- Education: University Expansion And The Rise Of The Graduate Class -- Racial Diversity And Immigration: The Rise Of Multiracial Britain -- Ethnocentrism: How Educational And Ethnic Divides Translate Into Political Conflicts -- From Demographic Change To Political Conflict: Conviction Liberals, Necessity Liberals And Identity Conservatives -- Educational Expansion And The Rise Of Conviction Liberals -- Ethnic Diversity And Necessity Liberal Ethnic Minorities -- Decline And Backlash: Identity Conservatives -- Identity Polarisation: Generations And Geography From Demographic Change To Political Change: Is Demography Destiny? -- 3 Divided Over Diversity: Identity Conservatives And Identity Liberals -- Introduction -- Identity Conservatives: Ethnocentrism As A Political Agenda -- Graduate Conviction Liberals: Social Norms And The Politics Of Anti-racism -- Ethnic Minority Necessity Liberals: Discrimination, Linked Fate And Strategic Alliances -- Why Identity Conflicts Are Polarising: A Clash Of Social Norms -- Conclusion -- 4 Legacies Of Empire: Commonwealth Immigration And The Historical Roots Of Identity Politics Divides -- Introduction The Origins Of The First Wave: The Entanglement Of Citizenship And Empire -- Public Opposition To Migration In The First Wave -- The Elite-mass Divide On Immigration In The First Wave -- The Political Activation Of Ethnocentrism: Enoch Powell And 'rivers Of Blood' -- After Powell: The Consolidation Of An Identity Politics Divide -- Mobilisation On The Left: Entrenching Anti-racism Norms -- Conclusion: Why Did Liberal Immigration Policies Persist For So Long? -- Part Ii Identity Conflicts From New Labour To The Coalition -- 5 The Long Divorce: Parties And Voters Parting Ways -- Introduction Parties Leaving Voters: Centralisation And Professionalisation -- Voters Leaving Parties: De-alignment And Disengagement -- A Flag To Rally Around: The Second Wave Of Immigration And The Activation Of Identity Politics -- Ethnocentric Activation: How Immigration Mobilised Identity Divides Into Politics -- Conclusion -- 6 The Identity Conservative Insurgency And The Rise Of Ukip -- Introduction -- Riding On Reputation: The Conservatives And Immigration Under New Labour -- Early Warning Signs: The Bnp And Ukip Under New Labour Maria Sobolewska, Robert Ford. Electronic Reproduction. Cambridge Available Via World Wide Web. An authoritative and accessible account of how long-term social and demographic changes - and the conflicts they create - continue to transform British politics. A book for anyone who wants to better understand the remarkable political times in which we live.