Wales ( cymru)
Wales population (2023) 3,2m; UK 67,7 m (2023)
Total area of 20,779km2 ; UK area 243,610 km2
Languages: English and Welsh (Cymraeg)
Geography: very mix, very rural, lakes, mountains and rivers
industrial geography
Population:
History:
- Wales a mountainous country
- Helped it resist English attempts at domination until 13th century
- Eventually conquered end 13th century-the last major revolt against the English
(Owain Glyndwr) in 1400-1409
- Wales brought into union with England under Henry VIII 1536: 170 years before
Scotland; 270 years before Ireland
- Consequence, of history and geography: Wales in political terms was assimilated into
the UK more effectively than Ireland or Scotland
History and the Economy:
- Industrial Revolution 1750s onwards
- North-east Wales: slate, south Wales: iron, coal, steel…
- Today some heavy industry
- South Wales steel; oil refineries
- Transition to petrochemicals, electronics, financial services, IT, leisure/ tourism
- Snowdonia, Brecon, Pembrokeshire - national parks
- Still 77% of total land area used for agriculture and forestry
Welsh culture:
Language, the music is very representative to the nationalism
welsh language is very different from english, the majority of habitants don’t speak welsh
Culture and language:
Wales : strong literary, musical, sporting traditions
National Eisteddfod: revival of medieval congress of Welsh bards
Festival of literature, music, performance
Includes series of competitions: music, recitation, drama, song, dance…
Culture and language:
Welsh language: important element in Welsh national identity
Proportion population able to speak it declining fast
1960 c.40% spoke only Welsh
1976 25%
Mainly spoken in north
and west, in rural
and agricultural areas
by older people
2021 census: 29%
Politics:
- Wales as part of the 'Celtic fringe'
- Specific and separate identity Nationalism based on culture, including language,
more than politics
- Plaid Cymru established 1925
- Principal political aim = autonomy (independence) for Wales
- Electoral appeal limited (14.3% 2001 highest ever share of vote)
- 2021 election to Westminster 9.9% of Welsh votes (4 MPs) (Labour 41% and
Conservatives 36%
- Rise of Plaid Cymru and SNP in late-1960s led to << Kilbrandon Commission >>
- Royal Commission on the Constitution (April 1969)
- Reported 1973: recommended < devolution > for Scotland and Wales
- Elected assemblies for Scotland and Wales: but disagreed on detail
- Devolution »: « The transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by
central government to local or regional administration >(Oxford English Dictionary)
- Findings not implemented by Conservative Government of 1970-74
Wales and devolution:
- Bill for devolution introduced November 1977
- Referendums held in Scotland and Wales 1 March 1979
- Wales « No » 80% to devolution
- Labour lose vote of no confidence 1979 when the SNP voted against the government
(« Turkeys voting for an early Christmas »)
- Parliament dissolved; election May 1979; Mrs Thatcher elected
- Conservatives - firmly against devolution - in power until 1997
- Devolution back on agenda in 1997 when Labour re-elected
- Referendum 18 september 1997
- Very close result in Wales 50.3% vote « Yes » to Welsh Assembly
- Elections to Assembly held May 1999
- Major devolved powers in Wales: Agriculture, education, health, housing...
- Ongoing process: powers enhanced 2006, 2017
