Little Englander

Little Englander is a term dating from the time of the Boer War (1899 - 1901). The term then designated people who wished the British Empire to extend only to the borders of the United Kingdom itself, i.e., these were people who wished to end British rule over India, South Africa, Canada etc. and to withdraw the empire to domestic borders.

Related Topics:
Boer War - 1899 - 1901 - British Empire - United Kingdom - India - South Africa - Canada

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Since those times, the term has come to mean any Englishman who sees only "little England," who is unaware of the wider world. From there, it has come to refer to naïve and bigoted English nationalism and middle class ignorance. It is often used by Scots, Welsh and Irish to describe English people who seem to be unaware, ignorant or intolerant of their own countries and peoples.

Related Topics:
Nationalism - Middle class - Scots - Welsh - Irish

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The political implications of the term have, therefore, changed. When introduced, a "Little Englander" was a radical and/or an anti-imperialist. This could be either from a left-liberal or a conservative direction. For example, G. K. Chesterton would count as a Little Englander; his party-political allegiance in the Edwardian period was to the Liberal Party, but his politics were always small-c conservative.

Related Topics:
Left-liberal - Conservative - G. K. Chesterton - Liberal Party

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Now, a "Little Englander" is assumed to be either ignorant and boorish, or an extreme nationalist (chauvinist), typically with anti-immigration views. Various satires have been created to illustrate this character, one being Henry Root in Root Into Europe.

Related Topics:
Chauvinist - Henry Root - Root Into Europe

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"Little Englanders" regard themselves as patriotic. Similar views can be found in many other countries, cf. United States isolationism.

Related Topics:
Patriot - United States isolationism

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