Could there be a post-Elizabethan golden age? Yesterday a whole country came together to mark the death of a monarch and the end of an era. Now it steps into a brand new age.
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Seven reasons to be optimistic about Britain
Could there be a post-Elizabethan golden age? Yesterday a whole country came together to mark the death of a monarch and the end of an era. Now it steps into a brand new age.
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It was the kind of event most people might see only once in their lifetime. The funeral of a monarch is always a grand spectacle, but few monarchs in history have been as beloved as Elizabeth II.
Many predicted that the death of Elizabeth II would cause a crisis of identity in the UK. In her 70-year reign, the Queen oversaw a dramatic transformation.
In 1952, when she came to the throne, the British empire still held 70 overseas territories. Britain itself was almost entirely White. Much of its population worked in heavy industries"Heavy industries" refers to large-scale manufacturing of physical objects, as opposed to "light industry", which is less intensive, and services, which produce non-physical things..
In the course of her reign, the empire crumbled. The UK population became more diverse. Industry disappeared. British tastes went global.
Some thought that with the Queen gone, Britain would struggle to reckon with the scale of this transformation.
But there was another side to the funeral. The world's most powerful leaders flocked to the UK. The empire might be gone, but Britain remains important.
That is why others believe this could be a great opportunity for Britain. Here are seven reasons for the UK to feel confident about the new Carolean era.1
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<h5 class=" eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Could there be a post-Elizabethan golden age?</strong></h5>
Yes: Britain is in a state of profound transformation. It could well take up a new international leadership role and extend its influence around the entire globe.
No: British success is built on sand. It is making limited progress towards net zero. It is undermining its universities with budget cuts. And while it is temporarily united in mourning the Queen, the cracks in society will soon reemerge.
Or... There is little sign that much will change in the UK with the passing of Elizabeth. The government remains the same, and the people are still divided in their opinion of its mission.
Heavy industries - "Heavy industries" refers to large-scale manufacturing of physical objects, as opposed to "light industry", which is less intensive, and services, which produce non-physical things.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Great offices of state - In the UK, the prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, foreign secretary and home secretary.
Net zero - When the gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by those being taken out of it.
Seven reasons to be optimistic about Britain
Carolean era: British soft power still reaches half a billion worldwide. Glossary
Heavy industries - “Heavy industries” refers to large-scale manufacturing of physical objects, as opposed to “light industry”, which is less intensive, and services, which produce non-physical things.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Great offices of state - In the UK, the prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, foreign secretary and home secretary.
Net zero - When the gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by those being taken out of it.