If the UK is a "country"...
Jan 20th, 2006, 03:56 AM
#5
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I don't know why, but some people are touchy about this issue. Recently, I read an article about the UK on MSNBC or CNN and they dodged the bullet by calling England, Wales and Scotland "sections" of the UK (N. Ireland didn't even rate a mention).
Jan 20th, 2006, 04:12 AM
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now thats a million dollar question, u will get different answers from scots welsh irish and english, and then if u ask indians in uk like me then you will get even more difficult answers i.e. am british but i would support india against england in cricket, england everywhere else, scots support everyone and anyone who play against england, and welsh dont really make any noise....but have the best countryside in uk.....nr ireland...still a debate
Jan 20th, 2006, 04:18 AM
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it further complicates things, when u add...overseas british territories i.e. falkland islands etc...then canada and australia who still have the queen as the head of state...a little island but with global presence.....nr ireland still a debate
Jan 20th, 2006, 04:23 AM
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"wouldnt the british live in united kingdoms of great britain and nr ireland??"
Not if they live in Northern Ireland, they wouldn't. They'd call themselves Northern Irish or Irish.
Great Britain only refers to the largest island of the British Isles, containing England, Scotland and Wales.
If Northern Ireland ever became independent or merged into Eire, we would be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain, as the UK bit refers to the Uniting of the Crowns of England and Scotland (and, in the past, Ireland). But we would lose the diagonal red cross on the Union Jack. I'm afraid Wales doesn't rate a mention as it's deemed a 'principality' so lacks the status/clout of a kingdom.
Not if they live in Northern Ireland, they wouldn't. They'd call themselves Northern Irish or Irish.
Great Britain only refers to the largest island of the British Isles, containing England, Scotland and Wales.
If Northern Ireland ever became independent or merged into Eire, we would be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain, as the UK bit refers to the Uniting of the Crowns of England and Scotland (and, in the past, Ireland). But we would lose the diagonal red cross on the Union Jack. I'm afraid Wales doesn't rate a mention as it's deemed a 'principality' so lacks the status/clout of a kingdom.
Jan 20th, 2006, 04:29 AM
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i think Kate's answer should answer the original question....i am surprised its not turned into a lengthier debate yet.....even i think the govt is confused on this...i was searching the websites and none have any definative answer....there was a movie called the 51st state of usa....well thats a different argument 
Jan 20th, 2006, 04:57 AM
#16
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A quite frequent formulation is that the United Kingdom is a state with four nations (or two kingdoms, one principality and one province; or three nations with an additional area containing two communities who don't agree about the definition of their nation).
Great Britain is an island with three nations, or two kingdoms and one principality. And Yorkshire.
London is a metaphorical island with a life all of its own.
A "country" is a useful term both geographical and political, but it doesn't necessarily mean a state or a nation; a state doesn't have to be a nation, or a nation a state. However bureaucratically and haltingly, the EU is helping the continent get over the most dangerous consequences of believing otherwise.
Or another idea is that the UK is the first post-modern state....
Great Britain is an island with three nations, or two kingdoms and one principality. And Yorkshire.
London is a metaphorical island with a life all of its own.
A "country" is a useful term both geographical and political, but it doesn't necessarily mean a state or a nation; a state doesn't have to be a nation, or a nation a state. However bureaucratically and haltingly, the EU is helping the continent get over the most dangerous consequences of believing otherwise.
Or another idea is that the UK is the first post-modern state....
Jan 20th, 2006, 05:19 AM
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There's a straightforward answer to the question.
The UK is not a country. It is a state.
England and Scotland are countries. Ireland is a country, but since I assume you mean Northern Ireland, it is a PART of a province.
Great Britain is just a name for Scotland, England and Wales. (Wales, as Kate says, is a principality).
England is a nation. Scotland is a nation with its own Parliament. That Parliament is entitled to legislate on its own affairs other than on those issues on which the UK Parliament reserved the power to act. Wales has an Assembly whose powers are more limited than those of the Scottish Parliament, and Northern Ireland has an Assembly which has been disbanded as a consequence of the ongoing difficulties there.
The UK is not a country. It is a state.
England and Scotland are countries. Ireland is a country, but since I assume you mean Northern Ireland, it is a PART of a province.
Great Britain is just a name for Scotland, England and Wales. (Wales, as Kate says, is a principality).
England is a nation. Scotland is a nation with its own Parliament. That Parliament is entitled to legislate on its own affairs other than on those issues on which the UK Parliament reserved the power to act. Wales has an Assembly whose powers are more limited than those of the Scottish Parliament, and Northern Ireland has an Assembly which has been disbanded as a consequence of the ongoing difficulties there.
Jan 20th, 2006, 05:39 AM
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OK..so when is a "country" NOT a "state"??????
Do people only ask "What should I wear?" when they visit "countries" or do they also have to know when they visit a "state?"
I mean, this is <b>important</b> information, particularly on a Friday...
Do people only ask "What should I wear?" when they visit "countries" or do they also have to know when they visit a "state?"
I mean, this is <b>important</b> information, particularly on a Friday...
