Tom Nairn: A student perspective

I first encountered Tom Nairn when saw a copy of The Break-up Britain (Nairn, 1977) at friend's house after my undergraduate degree had concluded in 1994. Unintentionally, nationalism was constant theme studies. These studies were conducted England and France the historic context European integration within framework early years Erasmus scheme for mass student mobility. As someone studying contemporary political history with touch continental philosophy, plus French Italian thrown into that mix, Tom's name kept cropping up books reading. In other words, knew ideas before met himself. One ways which about meeting him because there pen ink caricature waving saltire 1995 issue Times Higher Education Supplement. This article announced launch new MSc Nationalism Studies Edinburgh University. It this encouraged me to abandon plans study Quebec move from Brighton on south coast Scotland. Thus, finally arrived (to shame, late) ever students blustered door all eyes me, recognised drawing. have clear memories initial meeting. not least also wife, Shanti Sumartojo, meeting—I lot going class—but remember too. an important part MSc. David McCrone been prime mover setting (and having now worked universities two decades, appreciation work involved this—thank you, David). quieter than meeting, but he presence conveyed through silences. far as teaching concerned, role create lead classes would integrate some social science perspectives wider degree. PhD students, notably Ailsa Henderson, joy be of. They usually followed by liquid lunch down Cowgate, could, join us. meant Thursday afternoons most productive times purely words-on-page perspective. ghost John Knox surely disapproved high enjoyment, low work-rate combination. But what mattered Thursdays became point contact cohort-building between US, Canada, Japan, former Soviet Union and, course, United Kingdom. latter polity object particular scorn Tom. perhaps revealing—and challenging—part perspective communicated during those classes. gave general Scottish many non-Scottish before. Having spent formative Conservative parts south-east then imbibed hidden curriculum scheme, arriving October 1996 idea best consigned humanity's past contained, Europe least, advances regional integration. Events Yugoslavia, former-USSR Rwanda added drive sense understanding controlling matter urgency. Of adopter might contain nationalism. went further suggested allow positive flowering small-state He sceptical emergence end Cold War somehow worse potential destruction nuclear-armed great powers their imperialist impulses. scepticism directed towards cosmopolitan devotees universal principles. For Tom, if you scratched cosmopolitan, found underneath. difficult arguments make 1990s, they already marked out unorthodox thinker left British politics taught late 1990s. This, however, insight gained later research discussion colleagues (Wellings & Kenny, 2019). At time, stood contrast acerbic tone writing avuncular delivery his spoken word. style ponder each word emerged thought process. Ideas form slowly, leaving wondering, ‘Where will sentence end; or, started, it all?’ Some struggled sweep way interpretation openly grounded own Scottishness, hence membership one ‘small battalions’ 1997, pp. 133–175) world order. driving around partner Millicent dreich Sunday searching fish chips Fife, seemed express something philosophy—finding fate delivered. critique primarily institutions Britishness. these state itself, or ‘Ukania’ liked call it. Before Edinburgh, working Ernest Gellner Central University, Gellner's ever-present, situating modernist school intellectual debate time. Austro-Hungarian Empire banquet thinking Britishness Austro-Marxist readings slipped onto curriculum, Robert Musil's Man Without Qualities (Musil, 1930 [953]) mentioned frequently. If seen antiquated senile, good deal institution did paper over cracks polity: monarchy. monarchy evidence missing nationalist revolution history. To reach conclusion. drew Gramscian notions passive hegemony. view, existed where more authentic democratic national polities ought be. provided ‘folklore above’, leading strange obsessions royal weddings births heirs. Princess Wales' death car crash August 1997 came last month cohort. News event reported fellow whilst dissertation English (I arguing no longer resonance Britain, so section quietly deleted). party system another derision particularly moribund. travails Major's Conservatism spoke themselves, Scotland returned majority since 1983. Devolution horizon, New Labour's landslide May 1997. being relieved re-establishment Parliament 1999, view Tony Blair's modernising project still ersatz above. critical Gordon Brown's Thatcher's Major's, Labour Prime Minister noted tweet died. brought classroom year contained books. Britain. First published 1977, very much its time (one edition library even back-cover photo young author beret, amusement current students). Enchanted Glass, 1988 republished 1993. Both insightful analyses ‘modern Janus’, Englishness. A third book, Faces Nationalism: Janus Revisited My engagement shaped aforementioned dissertation, case Meetings summer allowed genuine exchange us topic. His approach act force change shifted Glass. Although Brexit-era expression seems closer analysis Enoch Powell's Englishness Break-up, 1990s views Anthony Barnett's, sensing vector (Barnett, 2017). has essay here, conventional academic. less profile Nonetheless, echoes can subsequent Englishness, Krishan Kumar's identity. approaching nationhood different perspectives, Arthur Aughey Michael Kenny both engage prompted (Aughey, 2007; 2014). Paul James' critically engaged (James, 1996). is heavily indebted thinking. way, ‘Scottish’ nationalism, insisting does consequences rather just epiphenomenal. advanced are merged owes post-New Scotland's ‘occluded nationalism’. discussions led applying concept true obscured symbols state, England. Accordingly, rated footnote After 2000), like major achievement starting PhD. Nicola Sturgeon referred ‘one greatest thinkers, theorists intellectuals produced - certainly respected voices civic committed independence Scotland, remained outside politics. wonder saddened see become independent lifetime. Open access publishing facilitated Monash Wiley University agreement via Council Australian Librarians.