Little Englander

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Little Englander is a term dating from the time of the Second 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.

[edit] Modern usage

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Since those times, the term has come to mean any Englishman who sees only "Little England" and who is unaware of the wider world. It refers to a form of English nationalism perceived as naïve, bigoted and ignorant. It is sometimes used by Scots, Welsh and Irish to describe English people perceived as unaware, ignorant or intolerant of their own countries and peoples.

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.

Now, a "Little Englander" is assumed to be either ignorant and boorish. Various satires have been created to illustrate this character, one being Henry Root in Root Into Europe.

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

[edit] See also

• Jingoism