On the edge of Britishness: the rupture of a national identity

Abstract

is a British Overseas Territory. This paper investigates how an imagined and ideological link between Britain and the island was created, maintained and eventually weakened. British citizenship was removed in 1981. Since its return in 2002, many St Helenians have migrated to the UK. Whilst a sense of Britishness has weakened, a sense of lived Britishness has simultaneously occurred. Investigating the feelings, emotions and cultural values within this migrant community, the islanders are far from deluded about their downgraded national identity and, as a community, are willing to articulate their mixed emotions.

The contradictions of islandness: The small island of St Helena and the emotions of transnationalism

“…An ex-pat British Governor resides on the island overseeing the island's affairs. The island's economic dependency on the metropole has caused feelings of subordination; their fickle British national identity has further enhanced feelings of insecurity (Parker, 2020a).…”

“…The islanders are undoubtedly aware of their disempowered, subordinate British status and hierarchical relationship with mainland Britain (Parker, 2020a). The memories of reduced citizenship remain and many recited the Royal Charter of 1673 to confirm their right to an intact British national identity: 2 at the then Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education (now the University of Gloucestershire) Eve, 78 they was really cross and angry, really cross … they say that no, it wasn't right to take it away … if Royalty give you anything, they shouldn't touch that Due to the lack of economic capital on the island, Marcus confirmed islanders are 'forced' away.…”

“…The political decisions of mainland Britain, has had undeniable consequences for the islanders. In 1981, the Island's official status shifted from a British Crown Colony to a British Dependent Territory, with reduced citizenship rights and a downgraded British national identity (Parker, 2020a). In 2002, citizenship rights including the right of abode in the UK, along with a British passport and unrestricted travel, were returned to this now British Overseas Territory.…”

“…The original aim of this research was to investigate the meanings of islandness, Britishness, citizenship and migration, for St Helenian islanders (Parker, 2020a;2020b). However, one significant outcome of this cultural investigation was that contradictory emotions were at the heart of this research, with the contradictions smoothed out through the everyday decisions and lived experiences of the St Helenians.…”