English Nationalism and its Ghost Towns

<p>In order to understand today’s nationalism we need to address the historical decline of working-class communities the sense of loss brought by deindustrialisation and how working-class people have been denied a voice in society and politics. Discontent has manifested strongly in these deprived post-industrial areas often branded as communities that have been left behind under neoliberal globalisation. Whilst more and more people are voicing their discontent with a system that fails to provide social security and economic stability many researchers have branded them merely as racists xenophobes and ill educated. Although prejudices are likely to play a part in all political outcomes today’s dissatisfaction across the West cannot be reduced to mere emotion and intolerance. </p><p>This book therefore utilises on-the-ground research with working-class individuals in a Leave voting locale in Britain exploring their discontent with politicians the Labour Party the European Union immigration refugees and the prolonged calls for a second referendum. It situates this sentiment towards society and politics within the decline of capitalism's post-war era and the loss of well-paid industrial jobs increase in non-unionised service employment and the hollowing out of community spirit.</p>