Devolution and national identity: the rules of English (dis)engagement

ABSTRACT. In this article I consider why the expected English backlash to theasymmetric UK devolution settlement has not yet materialised. Using a corpus ofconversational interviews, I discuss the various ways in which people in Englandcurrently understand the relationship between national identity and political entitle-ment. I conclude that English political quiescence, far from constituting an enigma, iscomprehensible in the light of the fact that members of the general public do notusually base their assessments of political legitimacy on calculations of Englishnational self-interest defined in contrast to Scotland. Rather, political issues tend tobe judged with reference to principles of equity and procedural justice. English identityis rarely considered legitimate grounds for political voice. Rather, people are inclinedto demonstrate a concern to balance the recognition of Scottish rights to national self-determination, with a display of public reason, civility and civic responsibility under-stood to be normatively incumbent upon the English majority.KEYWORDS: apathy; constitutional change; English identity; liberalism; politicalknowledge; public opinion