Welsh Nationalism

Welsh Nationalism, political and cultural movement in favour of Welsh language rights, religious equality, and local autonomy in Wales. Nationalism became a significant force in Welsh life only during the second half of the 19th century, encouraged by similar developments in Ireland and the inspirational writings and activities of Continental nationalists, such as Giuseppe Mazzini in Italy and Lajos Kossuth in Hungary. It was further stimulated by the advance of democracy and the question of the disestablishment of the Church within Wales.

Between 1886 and 1896 members of Cymru Fydd (“Young Wales”) actively sought a measure of Welsh self-government, but firmly within the context of Liberal politics. This movement was supported by such prominent Welshmen as Owen M. Edwards, Thomas Edward Ellis, John Morris-Jones, John Edward Lloyd, and even the youthful David Lloyd George. A federal University of Wales was established in 1893, and a National Library and Museum in 1907. After World War I the Liberal and Labour parties paid little attention to the national rights of Wales. A step towards Welsh nationalism was the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales in 1920, and the advent of The Church in Wales.

In 1925 the nationalists formed Plaid Cymru, a national party under the leadership of John Saunders Lewis with an emphasis on safeguarding Welsh-speaking communities. Although the party won the support of many Welsh writers and intellectuals, it initially failed to win popular support. In 1938 there was a split between the socialists and the cultural nationalists in Plaid Cymru, the latter turning to violence, and several party leaders were imprisoned. Only after World War II, under the leadership of Gwynfor Evans, did the party begin to win seats in local government elections. Evans entered Parliament in a by-election in Carmarthenshire in 1966, and was joined by two colleagues in 1974. The upsurge in nationalist sentiment gave rise to a number of new movements, among them the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) formed in 1962. Bodies such as the Welsh Arts Council and the Welsh Development Agency were also established. In 1970 provisions were made for bilingual education, in Welsh and English, in schools. The campaign for a Welsh television channel (S4C) was successful in 1982. In the March 1979 referendum concerning a Welsh assembly, however, some 80 per cent of those who turned out voted “No”, seeming to confirm that Welsh national sentiment was primarily cultural rather than political. During the 1980s, some Welsh people felt threatened by a continuing inward migration from English cities to rural areas, many of which also contained a significant number of “second” or “holiday” homes; some of these homes became the target of arson attacks. Devolution did not return to the Welsh political agenda until the 1990s, and in September 1997 a further referendum on a Welsh assembly eventually resulted in an extremely narrowly won “Yes” vote.

See also Wales: History: Nationalism.