Immigration and the Making of British Identity

The first of our British Academy Debates on the subject of Immigration was held in Birmingham in September.

What does it mean to be British? How has a British identity been constructed, historically, culturally and nationally? In what ways has Britain’s current and historic position on the international stage affected her identity? Does it matter if different communities maintain and promote their own cultural identity? And to what extent does this impact on our definition of being British?

Chair: Mary Rhodes, Broadcaster and Presenter BBC Midlands Today

Speakers:

• Professor Robin Cohen, Emeritus Professor and Former Director of the International Migration Institute, University of Oxford
• Professor Montserrat Guibernau, Queen Mary University, London
• Professor John Solomos, University of Warwick
• Dr Leah Bassel, University of Leicester

Read Professor Robin Cohen and Professor Ian Goldin’s blog on Immigration.