Tom Nairn and the Break-up of Britain

Abstract

For a long time now anyone who wanted to know what was ‘wrong’ with British politics had only to glance at much that was written on the subject to realise that this literature was part of the problem, not part of the solution. Not only were many of the best general works written by foreigners (McKenzie, Rose, Hechter, Beer) but so were not a few of the more detailed works (Stokes, Eckstein, Wilson, Roth). The best of the natives were generally interested in Abroad (especially France), Sociology or the latest euphemism for poor countries. What there was of a literature indigène hovered uncomfortably in a stodgy nether-world peopled by the ghosts of Burke, Bagehot and Jennings. The best empirical work was generally done in biography or contemporary history; beyond that topics often appeared to be chosen on the grounds of their truly heart-breaking triviality and boredom — the organisation of the civil service, local government, ombudsmen, the Commons’ committee system or the world of the lobby correspondent. The world passed such writing by and most students, thank heavens, passed it up.

Tom Nairn, The Break up of Britain, Crisis and Neo-nationalism (1977).