Developing Self and Other Recognition: Political Identity in the National Assembly for Wales

Abstract

This article involves a study of political identity in the National Assembly for Wales (NAW). Identity is closely linked with concepts of self in an objective and subjective context and takes a Hegelian idea of recognition in relation to the political identity of the NAW. Identity is explored from both self and other recognition perspectives in relation to the extent the NAW looks beyond the United Kingdom (UK) and concentrates on the European Union (EU) in terms of its identity formulation. For instance, how far is identity recognition in the NAW seen as an EU rather than UK concern? This paper takes into consideration the difficulties regarding a single identity and discusses these in relation to the NAW and Wales in general. This study provides some insight into the changes that devolution brought about and allows a practical and theoretical perspective of the development of Welsh political identity in the NAW.

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