The Construction of British National Identity among British South Asians

This paper explores the social psychological aspects of British national identifica- tion among British South Asians, which constitutes the largest ethnic minority group in Britain. Identity process theory can elucidate the social and psycholo- gical ‘functions’ of Britishness for social actors, offering a holistic account of national identification within this population. The paper provides a discussion of nationhood and the construction of national identity, temporal factors in national identification, its cognitive and affective aspects, the psychological ‘functionality’ of Britishness, and its social representations. It is argued that a civic, instrumental conception of Britishness might facilitate access to this identity among British South Asians.