There won't be any email on Sunday, I'm afraid. In fact I'm going to make it a fortnightly thing anyway, so I have more time to have interesting links and some readers comments.
I'm late to this piece, which is as good as anything I've read on this topic. I think the racialised English / vs deracialised British distinction is potentially a very useful one for managing the majority identity and minority identities in what is now a multi-cultural 'good' British empire. Although it doesn't provide an entirely clean solution - an Asian Briton who plays cricket for England is kind of hard to pigeon hole in this system. But maybe they are just the exception that proves an otherwise pretty solid rule. I may be wrong, and I can't speak for others, but my sense is that my (British) Asian friends do not see themselves as English, though it is increasingly becoming easy for them to feel British, while retaining strong ties with India, Pakistan etc.
"London is now 36.8 per cent ‘white British’, following a rapid transformation over the past five decades which is still ongoing. In contrast to such a dramatic and drastic change, what happens in Scotland hardly seems of importance"
This is how I feel about most political issues these days, to be fair. Nothing else really matters. Economic policies can be beneficial or disastrous, but they can also be reversed. Even something as destructive as trans ideology, despite the awful human suffering it causes, may eventually be pushed back against. But population change on this scale is effectively permanent. It changes the country far more than, say, membership of the EU or devolution. And it's being carried out at breakneck pace with no solid political mandate or genuine discussion. It's extraordinary.
That is precisely how I feel. Most disasters are reversible, mass immigration isn't. The only positive is that the Indians where I live (Leicester) are often politer, quieter, less drunkard, better dressed, less full of themselves, better educated and their children less annoying than many of the whites around here. We were pleased, though not surprised, when we heard Indians were moving in next door to us.
At the same time I have the same view as Peter Brimelow on what has happened, namely that politicians like Blair who presided over this replacement of the natives by immigrants should be hung from lamposts. I still fantasize that this might happen some day.
We have Birmingham, Slough and Bradford and so (unlike in the 1960’s) we know already precisely how this ends. For better or worse we know what that future looks like. The elites are building places where they will never choose to live - although eventually even they/their children will run out of choices. As you say, it is extraordinary.
Yes, the ironies of Asian leadership in these islands is acute - is it brown privilege, ? But perhaps more than irony is it rather a complete failure of our political class? Granted some good intentions to deal with racist attitudes, was it necessary to allow and some cases encourage immigration and the move to a multi-ethnic society, when a cogent case against was there in front of our eyes? 1. It undermines the national community - things in common - so essential to democracy. Prof Eric Kaufman in White Shift tells us there will be no White British by the end of the next century. 2. Diversity is bad news in the rest of the world, often a cause for civil war, so why import it - the Balkans, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, India, Nigeria etc ? Are we so superior that we can manage? The multi-racial USA is not doing brilliantly.3. Our trash liberal culture is in a mess, we can't even define a woman and then import Islam and Hinduism with their reactionary records to make things worse. 4. Immigration drives inequality by importing cheap labour and is unfair on the working class as it's their jobs, schools, communities etc which are most affected, not the wretched well heeled in the nice neighbourhoods - those who insist on immigration. 5 On immigration, there was no referendum and no political party ever had more immigration in its manifesto, so there was no democratic consent and people wonder why there is so much distrust of the rulers 6. Criticism of immigration was always smeared by the charge of racism even when people were trying to defend their national identity and national community which is actually responsible citizenship. Yes, sometimes the defence was racist and we can apologise but it was a useful excuse to marginalise voices that should have been heard.
So are we witnessing a scam of global capitalism just to turn England into an economic platform for the benefit of the elites and fail to make a fairer and better society for the indigenous inhabitants? Is the theft of a English national identity and its national community even a kind reverse racism? It's hard not to be ticked off. Oh by the way. Japan remains Japanese and nobody says its racist.
I don't think that most white English have yet recognised that the multiculturalism they have been told to celebrate is, as Eric Kaufmann writes, asymmetrical. When they do, the results may not be pretty.
I doubt there's going to be any backlash, to be honest. The English educated classes have just bought into this idea, every time there's some new insult and outrage nothing happens.
I thought the cenotaph flag being set alight might provoke some anguish but even that.... nothing.
To the extent being Scottish gives me any insight :
The Union endures because the apparent antipathy amongst the British tribes can be felt and expressed so fully, and without any sense of guilt at all. In hating (and it is not really hate but some panto version of it - or what appears to be hate amongst family members but is actually a perverse expression of closeness) there is a sort of catharsis. This is hugely important. Relations can be managed organically within emerging culture and without coercion.
There is no parallel for this across Britain when viewed "multi culturally". Indeed, we are so far from it that we must be incredibly paranoid about any expression that might be viewed negatively - and increasingly so. This is a hopelessly unstable, synthetic and oppressive situation (to use a leftist metaphor a sort of astro turfed reality) that requires permanent policing, the bearing down on by the state, pontification from cultural elites - and ultimately lots and lots of lies. The mistake is not immigration. The mistake is immigration while denying that beyond a certain scale it must overwhelm what previously existed - being the biggest lie of all.
One of the analogies someone made ages ago with integration was that cohesive groups of male friends often have a joking around at each other's expense - banter - and if you tried to structure a group where this wasn't permitted there would be zero solidarity. the nations of Britain certainly have that dynamic but multicultural Britain was built on the idea of eggshells.
Scotland remains largely non "multicutural" except for Glasgow whose demographic trajectory matches very closely that of Birmingham albeit with a lag of 30 years (i.e. Birmingham 1961 - 1991 looks close to identical to Glasgow 1991 - 2021 (although as you note most recent census figures still awaited but there is already a level of data to support the conclusion ). Of course, this is already driving up house prices in the places where the elites choose to live.
The cenotaph incident just goes to show that there is no chance of any counterrevolution, its the closest thing the broadly secular English people have to a holy place and its desecration (and subsequent abuse of the household cavalry squaddies coming out to clean it) provoked nothing but a few expressions of weary sadness.
It reminded me of the ending of Things Fall Apart when the proud warrior realises his tribe will not resist their destruction and subsequently goes into the woods to hang himself
Ed, this is exactly right and it's because English-speaking people have lost confidence in themselves and their civilizational values. To paraphrase Kenneth Clark in The Skin of Our Teeth: we are exhausted.
But we are not exhausted. I agree that we have lost confidence, or had our confidence undermined by our elites. (Or, to be more accurate, most of them).
Matt Goodwin has a good Substack article today (which references a Guardian article by him published (I think) today) which delineates the cultural gap between Labour and its "red wall" voters. I agree nothing significant happens in politics without the leadership of some members of the elite - however, when some of them see a massive opportunity to enhance their own career or other interests by appealing to a large swathe of voters, they might be inclined to take it. Boris, for instance, was clearly personally conflicted on Brexit, but saw it as an opening for his ambition to be PM. There was also a very interesting item on Dan Wootton (GB News) last night about Nish Kumar calling Rishi a C**t where the Asian panelist saw no problem with an Asian calling another Asian a "coconut" (not the word Kumar used) and Wootton and the other panelists pretty much called her a racist. Yet as I understand it, she was being truthful about the state of current speech codes.
I think everyone has now taken up a position and no one will move to the other tribe. I can't imagine any data or future event that would open people's eyes and make them change their minds. Even if some currently clueless people were to suddenly became aware that multiculturalism is asymetrical a reason to justify this would quickly be found: making up for past grievances, the asymetry is only apparent, we have so much to learn from them and on and on. It will be the same kind of motivated reasoning that always excuses black people for rampant crime, academic failure, not paying bills, under-representation among brain surgeons and astronauts etc. It's easy to lie to yourself when the motivation is strong enough.
It is necessary for the British people to put the past behind them and start thinking about the future. Our grandchildren will live as a despised and beleaguered minority in their own homeland. If you are resigned to that, then there really is no point in any further discussions about constitutional arrangements.
Hmm, 'White British'. I think I might start talking about 'Brown Indians' in India, 'Black Jamaicans' in Jamaica and 'Yellow Japanese' in Japan. After all, all those countries contain white minorities.
I always thought there was an inherent tension within Scottish nationalism. One wing was firmly based on the historic Scottish identity (aka Alex Salmon), the other wing was more focused on creating a brave new progressive state that happened to be in Scotland, another version of Trudeau's "post national" Canada (the current new leader). Given the laws of progressivism re open borders and diversity, the two could not peacefully coexist. A revived Labour with a stronger progressive focus (as is likely to be the case) south of the border will surely deal a blow to the strength of the SNP north of the border. On the other hand, there is perhaps now greater sympathy for the "tartan tory" part of the SNP given the changes wrought south of the border.
"Yet this sort of diversity has been a feature of crumbling empires down the ages"
When it's strong, the empire conquers and displaces other people groups. As they weaken, the other people groups start to displace the empire. A near perfect mirror of ancient Rome.
To an American, I've always thought "British" and "English" meant the same thing, so this was an interesting article. The idea that identification of one or the other might mean something significant never occurred to me. Thanks.
Also, sadly, a near-perfect mirror of what is happening in the US. Though you guys have made a much more cogent effort to enfold immigrants into national loyalty. Brits find it amazing (if not literally unbelievable) how many US houses fly a flag proudly; or US politicians of every stripe wear a flag; how audiences at sports matches sing national songs with enthusiasm; how children swear allegiance to the Flag, etc. We can only manage this ourselves during the Olympics, when ‘Team GB’ becomes a massive unifying factor, or during wars where we see ourselves as the wronged party (the Falklands being the last of those). Or, sadly, when our monarch dies and, hopefully, when our new one is crowned.
I think you can pull it off for the World Cup too. :-)
Among liberal progressives in America though, the sort of patriotism your describing has largely waned. the Left is embarrassed by the National Anthem; they eschew military flyovers; they think the American flag is a symbol of supremacy (seriously!)
For American progressives, it very much appears that the rainbow flag truly has replaced the stars and striped as their national symbol. They will kneel in protest at red and white stripes, but kneel in worship of the rainbow ones.
It's also how lasting empires actually start, by gathering up client states and allies before, if it's needed, taking full control. The crumbling starts when constituents want more or want out.
I'm not choosy about whether I'm called British or English and call myself both. Maybe I'm happy with 'British' because it shows I side more with the less multicultural, less progressive nations of Scotland, Wales and (historically) Ireland. On the other hand I'm happy with 'English' because it suggests I'm conscious of, and in favour of, nationalism.
If there is anything left to save, and a people capable of saving it, then the first order of action must be to throw off the yoke of American imperialism.
If you figure out how to defeat American cultural imperialism, please let America know, because a lot of Americans would like to be done with it on the domestic front as well.
Brock, it is more than cultural imperialism. It is military, political and economic imperialism. Full spectrum dominance. I don't how to defeat it but I do know that the first step in solving any problem is to recognise that the problem exists and that something must be done about it.
I’m skeptical as to how much blame America bears for economic imperialism (today, anyway) as opposed to large multinational corporations that are hardly answerable to any government at this point, but freely admit that I don’t know what you have in mind. As for military and political imperialism, the average American thinks of the UK as a partner, so I’d be curious to know (in brief!) what exactly the US is doing in those departments that you see as imperialist. Not because I’m interested in arguing about it; just because I’m ignorant of this viewpoint.
Brock, point taken and I do agree to some extent on the economic imperialism. Global capital is not just not answerable to any government, it enjoys the servitude of just about every government.
Britain is not a partner to the GAE, it is a faithful aide-de-camp, a loyal servant. It is the GAE that has forced Britain, together with the rest of Europe, into a needless and damaging confrontation with Russia (and soon China) and which could well end in utter ruination for us. We are also being pulled apart by the American diseases of anti-whiteism, DIE and globohomo which are more advanced and pernicious in Britain, possibly due to the common language.
That said, I do not blame the GAE for all of our problems; we have homegrown pathologies too. But we cannot even begin to address them until we extricate ourselves from the GAE and NATO and re-establish ourselves as an independent nation. Nor, I must point out, am I anti-American. In fact, I am great admirer of the American nation which is also, I believe, contemptuously regarded as a mere colony.
I’ve always thought the relation between the English and British identities is peculiarly similar to how the Russian and Soviet ones used to relate to each other.
Same with the crisis of self-confidence after losing a superpower status, although the UK handled its way better than we did ours.
Nice piece. One of my hobby horses is that the Union was always weaker than it looked. There is an Ireland that might have existed which wasn't wet and poor for most of the 20th century . The moment Dublin recovered from the act of Union. Dublin was the 4th largest city in Europe at one point- then Scotland would get restless. I think we lived and our parents lived 1850-1970 a time of o unionist strength
Interesting detail from the article on the Treaty negotiations you cited:
'When Dev handed the prime minister a document headed “Saorstát Éireann”, Lloyd George asked him to explain it. Lloyd George already knew that it meant literally “Irish Free State” and not “Irish Republic”. He used this fact to score a point, saying: “Must we admit that the Celts never were republicans and have no native word for such an idea?”
This and other jockeying by Lloyd George irritated Dev.'
Full disclosure, this is his publicly listed mail and I don't know Arpi in any way personally. I simply pay for his Substack as well and can see that clearly the two of you are of similar minds. He regularly looks for new people to interview (He's had Eric Kaufman, Matthew Goodwin, Douglas Murray and Tom Holland on his podcast already for example) and the swedish audience definitely deserves to hear more about yourself and the topics you write about.
Other than that please keep up the good work, I'm always very excited whenever I see any new post of yours!
"Decline" can be a slog at points, but it has taught me so much esp how to look at Cultures/Civs as organic beasts with similar life cycles: establishment, flourishing, decline, and how all these patterns have played out repeatedly throughout history.
Also, this is how Volume 2 begins, I saved it because it is so beautifully written (and bc no one, whether writing fiction or history, writes as well anymore):
"REGARD the flowers at eventide as, one after the other, they close in the setting sun. Strange is the feeling that then presses in upon you - a feeling of enigmatic fear in the presence of this blind dreamlike earth-bound existence. The dumb forest, the silent meadows, this bush, that twig, do not stir themselves, it is the wind that plays with them. Only the little gnat is free—he dances still in the evening light, he moves whither he will.
A herd that huddles together trembling in the presence of danger, a child that clings weeping to its mother, a man desperately striving to force a way into his God - all these are seeking to return out of the life of freedom into the vegetal servitude from which they were emancipated into individuality and loneliness.
This beat of cosmic cycles goes on notwithstanding the freedom of microcosmic movement in space, and from time to time breaks down the tension of the waking individual's being into the one grand felt harmony...."
There won't be any email on Sunday, I'm afraid. In fact I'm going to make it a fortnightly thing anyway, so I have more time to have interesting links and some readers comments.
I'm late to this piece, which is as good as anything I've read on this topic. I think the racialised English / vs deracialised British distinction is potentially a very useful one for managing the majority identity and minority identities in what is now a multi-cultural 'good' British empire. Although it doesn't provide an entirely clean solution - an Asian Briton who plays cricket for England is kind of hard to pigeon hole in this system. But maybe they are just the exception that proves an otherwise pretty solid rule. I may be wrong, and I can't speak for others, but my sense is that my (British) Asian friends do not see themselves as English, though it is increasingly becoming easy for them to feel British, while retaining strong ties with India, Pakistan etc.
"London is now 36.8 per cent ‘white British’, following a rapid transformation over the past five decades which is still ongoing. In contrast to such a dramatic and drastic change, what happens in Scotland hardly seems of importance"
This is how I feel about most political issues these days, to be fair. Nothing else really matters. Economic policies can be beneficial or disastrous, but they can also be reversed. Even something as destructive as trans ideology, despite the awful human suffering it causes, may eventually be pushed back against. But population change on this scale is effectively permanent. It changes the country far more than, say, membership of the EU or devolution. And it's being carried out at breakneck pace with no solid political mandate or genuine discussion. It's extraordinary.
That is precisely how I feel. Most disasters are reversible, mass immigration isn't. The only positive is that the Indians where I live (Leicester) are often politer, quieter, less drunkard, better dressed, less full of themselves, better educated and their children less annoying than many of the whites around here. We were pleased, though not surprised, when we heard Indians were moving in next door to us.
At the same time I have the same view as Peter Brimelow on what has happened, namely that politicians like Blair who presided over this replacement of the natives by immigrants should be hung from lamposts. I still fantasize that this might happen some day.
We have Birmingham, Slough and Bradford and so (unlike in the 1960’s) we know already precisely how this ends. For better or worse we know what that future looks like. The elites are building places where they will never choose to live - although eventually even they/their children will run out of choices. As you say, it is extraordinary.
Yes, the ironies of Asian leadership in these islands is acute - is it brown privilege, ? But perhaps more than irony is it rather a complete failure of our political class? Granted some good intentions to deal with racist attitudes, was it necessary to allow and some cases encourage immigration and the move to a multi-ethnic society, when a cogent case against was there in front of our eyes? 1. It undermines the national community - things in common - so essential to democracy. Prof Eric Kaufman in White Shift tells us there will be no White British by the end of the next century. 2. Diversity is bad news in the rest of the world, often a cause for civil war, so why import it - the Balkans, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, India, Nigeria etc ? Are we so superior that we can manage? The multi-racial USA is not doing brilliantly.3. Our trash liberal culture is in a mess, we can't even define a woman and then import Islam and Hinduism with their reactionary records to make things worse. 4. Immigration drives inequality by importing cheap labour and is unfair on the working class as it's their jobs, schools, communities etc which are most affected, not the wretched well heeled in the nice neighbourhoods - those who insist on immigration. 5 On immigration, there was no referendum and no political party ever had more immigration in its manifesto, so there was no democratic consent and people wonder why there is so much distrust of the rulers 6. Criticism of immigration was always smeared by the charge of racism even when people were trying to defend their national identity and national community which is actually responsible citizenship. Yes, sometimes the defence was racist and we can apologise but it was a useful excuse to marginalise voices that should have been heard.
So are we witnessing a scam of global capitalism just to turn England into an economic platform for the benefit of the elites and fail to make a fairer and better society for the indigenous inhabitants? Is the theft of a English national identity and its national community even a kind reverse racism? It's hard not to be ticked off. Oh by the way. Japan remains Japanese and nobody says its racist.
I don't think that most white English have yet recognised that the multiculturalism they have been told to celebrate is, as Eric Kaufmann writes, asymmetrical. When they do, the results may not be pretty.
I doubt there's going to be any backlash, to be honest. The English educated classes have just bought into this idea, every time there's some new insult and outrage nothing happens.
I thought the cenotaph flag being set alight might provoke some anguish but even that.... nothing.
To the extent being Scottish gives me any insight :
The Union endures because the apparent antipathy amongst the British tribes can be felt and expressed so fully, and without any sense of guilt at all. In hating (and it is not really hate but some panto version of it - or what appears to be hate amongst family members but is actually a perverse expression of closeness) there is a sort of catharsis. This is hugely important. Relations can be managed organically within emerging culture and without coercion.
There is no parallel for this across Britain when viewed "multi culturally". Indeed, we are so far from it that we must be incredibly paranoid about any expression that might be viewed negatively - and increasingly so. This is a hopelessly unstable, synthetic and oppressive situation (to use a leftist metaphor a sort of astro turfed reality) that requires permanent policing, the bearing down on by the state, pontification from cultural elites - and ultimately lots and lots of lies. The mistake is not immigration. The mistake is immigration while denying that beyond a certain scale it must overwhelm what previously existed - being the biggest lie of all.
One of the analogies someone made ages ago with integration was that cohesive groups of male friends often have a joking around at each other's expense - banter - and if you tried to structure a group where this wasn't permitted there would be zero solidarity. the nations of Britain certainly have that dynamic but multicultural Britain was built on the idea of eggshells.
Scotland remains largely non "multicutural" except for Glasgow whose demographic trajectory matches very closely that of Birmingham albeit with a lag of 30 years (i.e. Birmingham 1961 - 1991 looks close to identical to Glasgow 1991 - 2021 (although as you note most recent census figures still awaited but there is already a level of data to support the conclusion ). Of course, this is already driving up house prices in the places where the elites choose to live.
If mass rape in Rotheram didn't provoke a reaction nothing will.
Look over there at that horrible Tommy Robinson - and did you know its not even his real name.
The cenotaph incident just goes to show that there is no chance of any counterrevolution, its the closest thing the broadly secular English people have to a holy place and its desecration (and subsequent abuse of the household cavalry squaddies coming out to clean it) provoked nothing but a few expressions of weary sadness.
It reminded me of the ending of Things Fall Apart when the proud warrior realises his tribe will not resist their destruction and subsequently goes into the woods to hang himself
Ed, this is exactly right and it's because English-speaking people have lost confidence in themselves and their civilizational values. To paraphrase Kenneth Clark in The Skin of Our Teeth: we are exhausted.
But we are not exhausted. I agree that we have lost confidence, or had our confidence undermined by our elites. (Or, to be more accurate, most of them).
Matt Goodwin has a good Substack article today (which references a Guardian article by him published (I think) today) which delineates the cultural gap between Labour and its "red wall" voters. I agree nothing significant happens in politics without the leadership of some members of the elite - however, when some of them see a massive opportunity to enhance their own career or other interests by appealing to a large swathe of voters, they might be inclined to take it. Boris, for instance, was clearly personally conflicted on Brexit, but saw it as an opening for his ambition to be PM. There was also a very interesting item on Dan Wootton (GB News) last night about Nish Kumar calling Rishi a C**t where the Asian panelist saw no problem with an Asian calling another Asian a "coconut" (not the word Kumar used) and Wootton and the other panelists pretty much called her a racist. Yet as I understand it, she was being truthful about the state of current speech codes.
I think everyone has now taken up a position and no one will move to the other tribe. I can't imagine any data or future event that would open people's eyes and make them change their minds. Even if some currently clueless people were to suddenly became aware that multiculturalism is asymetrical a reason to justify this would quickly be found: making up for past grievances, the asymetry is only apparent, we have so much to learn from them and on and on. It will be the same kind of motivated reasoning that always excuses black people for rampant crime, academic failure, not paying bills, under-representation among brain surgeons and astronauts etc. It's easy to lie to yourself when the motivation is strong enough.
It is necessary for the British people to put the past behind them and start thinking about the future. Our grandchildren will live as a despised and beleaguered minority in their own homeland. If you are resigned to that, then there really is no point in any further discussions about constitutional arrangements.
Hmm, 'White British'. I think I might start talking about 'Brown Indians' in India, 'Black Jamaicans' in Jamaica and 'Yellow Japanese' in Japan. After all, all those countries contain white minorities.
I always thought there was an inherent tension within Scottish nationalism. One wing was firmly based on the historic Scottish identity (aka Alex Salmon), the other wing was more focused on creating a brave new progressive state that happened to be in Scotland, another version of Trudeau's "post national" Canada (the current new leader). Given the laws of progressivism re open borders and diversity, the two could not peacefully coexist. A revived Labour with a stronger progressive focus (as is likely to be the case) south of the border will surely deal a blow to the strength of the SNP north of the border. On the other hand, there is perhaps now greater sympathy for the "tartan tory" part of the SNP given the changes wrought south of the border.
"Yet this sort of diversity has been a feature of crumbling empires down the ages"
When it's strong, the empire conquers and displaces other people groups. As they weaken, the other people groups start to displace the empire. A near perfect mirror of ancient Rome.
To an American, I've always thought "British" and "English" meant the same thing, so this was an interesting article. The idea that identification of one or the other might mean something significant never occurred to me. Thanks.
Also, sadly, a near-perfect mirror of what is happening in the US. Though you guys have made a much more cogent effort to enfold immigrants into national loyalty. Brits find it amazing (if not literally unbelievable) how many US houses fly a flag proudly; or US politicians of every stripe wear a flag; how audiences at sports matches sing national songs with enthusiasm; how children swear allegiance to the Flag, etc. We can only manage this ourselves during the Olympics, when ‘Team GB’ becomes a massive unifying factor, or during wars where we see ourselves as the wronged party (the Falklands being the last of those). Or, sadly, when our monarch dies and, hopefully, when our new one is crowned.
I think you can pull it off for the World Cup too. :-)
Among liberal progressives in America though, the sort of patriotism your describing has largely waned. the Left is embarrassed by the National Anthem; they eschew military flyovers; they think the American flag is a symbol of supremacy (seriously!)
For American progressives, it very much appears that the rainbow flag truly has replaced the stars and striped as their national symbol. They will kneel in protest at red and white stripes, but kneel in worship of the rainbow ones.
It's also how lasting empires actually start, by gathering up client states and allies before, if it's needed, taking full control. The crumbling starts when constituents want more or want out.
I'm not choosy about whether I'm called British or English and call myself both. Maybe I'm happy with 'British' because it shows I side more with the less multicultural, less progressive nations of Scotland, Wales and (historically) Ireland. On the other hand I'm happy with 'English' because it suggests I'm conscious of, and in favour of, nationalism.
If there is anything left to save, and a people capable of saving it, then the first order of action must be to throw off the yoke of American imperialism.
If you figure out how to defeat American cultural imperialism, please let America know, because a lot of Americans would like to be done with it on the domestic front as well.
Brock, it is more than cultural imperialism. It is military, political and economic imperialism. Full spectrum dominance. I don't how to defeat it but I do know that the first step in solving any problem is to recognise that the problem exists and that something must be done about it.
I’m skeptical as to how much blame America bears for economic imperialism (today, anyway) as opposed to large multinational corporations that are hardly answerable to any government at this point, but freely admit that I don’t know what you have in mind. As for military and political imperialism, the average American thinks of the UK as a partner, so I’d be curious to know (in brief!) what exactly the US is doing in those departments that you see as imperialist. Not because I’m interested in arguing about it; just because I’m ignorant of this viewpoint.
Brock, point taken and I do agree to some extent on the economic imperialism. Global capital is not just not answerable to any government, it enjoys the servitude of just about every government.
Britain is not a partner to the GAE, it is a faithful aide-de-camp, a loyal servant. It is the GAE that has forced Britain, together with the rest of Europe, into a needless and damaging confrontation with Russia (and soon China) and which could well end in utter ruination for us. We are also being pulled apart by the American diseases of anti-whiteism, DIE and globohomo which are more advanced and pernicious in Britain, possibly due to the common language.
That said, I do not blame the GAE for all of our problems; we have homegrown pathologies too. But we cannot even begin to address them until we extricate ourselves from the GAE and NATO and re-establish ourselves as an independent nation. Nor, I must point out, am I anti-American. In fact, I am great admirer of the American nation which is also, I believe, contemptuously regarded as a mere colony.
GAE would oppose Russia's conquest of Ukraine even if it wasn't dominated by cultural leftism.
I’ve always thought the relation between the English and British identities is peculiarly similar to how the Russian and Soviet ones used to relate to each other.
Same with the crisis of self-confidence after losing a superpower status, although the UK handled its way better than we did ours.
reading about how Russians were made to feel about their nationality in the USSR really illustrates that there are no new things under the Sun.
If you can't call each other names then the cultural gap is already too big and likely going to get bigger quickly
Nice piece. One of my hobby horses is that the Union was always weaker than it looked. There is an Ireland that might have existed which wasn't wet and poor for most of the 20th century . The moment Dublin recovered from the act of Union. Dublin was the 4th largest city in Europe at one point- then Scotland would get restless. I think we lived and our parents lived 1850-1970 a time of o unionist strength
Interesting detail from the article on the Treaty negotiations you cited:
'When Dev handed the prime minister a document headed “Saorstát Éireann”, Lloyd George asked him to explain it. Lloyd George already knew that it meant literally “Irish Free State” and not “Irish Republic”. He used this fact to score a point, saying: “Must we admit that the Celts never were republicans and have no native word for such an idea?”
This and other jockeying by Lloyd George irritated Dev.'
Ed, honestly, these posts about multiculturam empires are among the most interesting ones I've read on Substack. Can you please guest Ivar Arpi at;
https://www.enrakhoger.se/
I would love to see you introduced to a Swedish audience!
I’m happy to email him the full articles if you have his email
He's actually a Substacker as well now since a while, but he's definitely a known profile in the Swedish conservative intellectual space.
His mail is;
ivar@arpi.se
Full disclosure, this is his publicly listed mail and I don't know Arpi in any way personally. I simply pay for his Substack as well and can see that clearly the two of you are of similar minds. He regularly looks for new people to interview (He's had Eric Kaufman, Matthew Goodwin, Douglas Murray and Tom Holland on his podcast already for example) and the swedish audience definitely deserves to hear more about yourself and the topics you write about.
Other than that please keep up the good work, I'm always very excited whenever I see any new post of yours!
Best,
Thank you!
Spengler knew!
"Decline" can be a slog at points, but it has taught me so much esp how to look at Cultures/Civs as organic beasts with similar life cycles: establishment, flourishing, decline, and how all these patterns have played out repeatedly throughout history.
Also, this is how Volume 2 begins, I saved it because it is so beautifully written (and bc no one, whether writing fiction or history, writes as well anymore):
"REGARD the flowers at eventide as, one after the other, they close in the setting sun. Strange is the feeling that then presses in upon you - a feeling of enigmatic fear in the presence of this blind dreamlike earth-bound existence. The dumb forest, the silent meadows, this bush, that twig, do not stir themselves, it is the wind that plays with them. Only the little gnat is free—he dances still in the evening light, he moves whither he will.
A herd that huddles together trembling in the presence of danger, a child that clings weeping to its mother, a man desperately striving to force a way into his God - all these are seeking to return out of the life of freedom into the vegetal servitude from which they were emancipated into individuality and loneliness.
This beat of cosmic cycles goes on notwithstanding the freedom of microcosmic movement in space, and from time to time breaks down the tension of the waking individual's being into the one grand felt harmony...."
Magical!