Teil 4 The United Kingdom - diverse and disunited?

Vereinigtes Königreich

State made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The UK contains several national identities.

Landesteil/Nation innerhalb des UK

One of the four nations forming the UK.

Scotland is a constituent nation of the UK.

britische Identität

The idea of what it means to be British; it may coexist with other identities.

Britishness can be understood as a civic and flexible identity.

nationale Identität

A sense of belonging to a nation, shaped by history, culture and politics.

National identity is particularly contested in Northern Ireland.

die staatliche Union

The political union linking the four nations of the UK.

Debates about independence challenge the future of the Union.

Unionismus

Support for maintaining the political union.

Unionism remains influential in several parts of the UK.

Nationalismus/Unabhängigkeitsstreben

Political support for national self-determination or independence.

Scottish nationalism has strengthened demands for another referendum.

Dezentralisierung/Übertragung von Befugnissen

Transfer of powers from the UK Parliament to institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Devolution recognizes regional differences but does not end constitutional conflict.

übertragene Zuständigkeiten

Policy areas decided by devolved institutions.

Education is largely governed through devolved powers.

Unabhängigkeitsreferendum

A public vote on whether a territory should become independent.

An independence referendum can intensify debates about sovereignty.

konstitutionelle Monarchie

A system in which the monarch is head of state but political power is exercised through constitutional institutions.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy.

parlamentarische Demokratie

A system in which the government depends on parliamentary support.

In a parliamentary democracy, the executive is accountable to Parliament.

nicht in einem Dokument kodifizierte Verfassung

A constitution based on laws, conventions and court decisions rather than one single constitutional document.

The UK has an uncodified constitution.

Parlamentssouveränität

The principle that Parliament is the highest law-making authority.

Brexit debates often referred to parliamentary sovereignty.

Mehrheitswahlsystem

An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

First-past-the-post can produce strong governments but unequal representation.

Austritt des UK aus der EU

The political process through which the UK left the European Union.

Brexit exposed regional and generational divisions.

Austritt / Verbleib

The two main positions in the 2016 EU referendum.

Leave and Remain became powerful political identities.

Souveränität

The authority of a state or institution to govern itself.

Supporters of Brexit emphasized national sovereignty.

die irische Grenze

The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Brexit complicated the political meaning of the Irish border.

Karfreitagsabkommen

The 1998 peace agreement that created a power-sharing framework in Northern Ireland.

The Good Friday Agreement is central to political stability in Northern Ireland.

konfessionelle Spaltung

Conflict or discrimination based on religious or communal identity.

Sectarianism has shaped the history of Northern Ireland.

multikulturelle Gesellschaft

A society containing different cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Post-war migration contributed to a multicultural society.

Migration

Movement of people from one place or country to another.

Migration has changed ideas of British identity.

Integration

Participation in society while cultural differences may remain.

Integration requires access to education, work and political participation.

Assimilation

Adoption of the dominant culture, often with pressure to give up distinct practices.

Assimilation demands can create conflict over identity.

gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt

The degree of trust, belonging and cooperation within society.

Shared institutions can strengthen social cohesion.

Diskriminierung

Unfair treatment based on identity or group membership.

Discrimination can restrict access to housing and employment.

Fremdenfeindlichkeit

Fear or hostility towards foreigners or migrants.

Political rhetoric can intensify xenophobia.

soziale Klasse

A social position linked to income, education, occupation and culture.

Social class remains visible in education and accent.

sozialer Aufstieg/Beweglichkeit

The ability to move between social positions.

Unequal schooling can limit social mobility.

kulturelles Kapital

Knowledge, language and habits that give social advantages.

Accent can function as a form of cultural capital.

regionale Ungleichheit

Unequal economic opportunities and public resources between regions.

Regional inequality has fuelled political frustration.

Nord-Süd-Gefälle

Economic and social differences between London/the South and many northern regions.

The North-South divide is a recurring political issue.

Sozialstaat

A system of public support and social services.

The welfare state can reduce insecurity and inequality.

staatlicher Gesundheitsdienst

The UK's publicly funded National Health Service.

The NHS is often presented as a shared national institution.

Britisches Weltreich

The territories historically ruled or controlled by Britain.

The British Empire shaped migration and global connections.

Kolonialismus

Political and economic control of other territories and peoples.

Colonialism created long-term inequalities.

Entkolonialisierung

The process through which colonies gained independence.

Decolonization changed Britain's global role.

postkoloniales Erbe

The continuing effects of colonial rule on society, memory and power.

The postcolonial legacy influences debates about museums and education.

Commonwealth

An association of states, many of them former territories of the British Empire.

The Commonwealth reflects both cooperation and imperial history.

Windrush-Generation

People from Caribbean countries who migrated to Britain after the Second World War, especially from 1948 onwards.

The Windrush generation played an important role in post-war Britain.

Polarisierung

A process in which political or social groups move further apart.

Brexit contributed to political polarization.

EU-Skepsis

Doubt or opposition towards European integration or EU institutions.

Euroscepticism was a major force behind the Leave campaign.

Zugehörigkeit

A feeling of being accepted as part of a community.

Citizenship does not always guarantee a sense of belonging.

gemeinsame Werte

Principles that different groups recognize as common.

Democracy and equal rights may serve as shared values.