Britishness

At the end of Tony Blair's term, a new political campaign is launched. He is opposed to William Hague, member of the Conservative Party. In a period when Ireland still faces separatism after numerous bloody episodes, in a world more and more subject to globalisation and four years after the previous election, he has to face new issues and to renew his program.
We can then wonder what was Tony Blair's aim beside the election when delivering this speech and which devices he uses.
In this extract entitled “Britishness”, Tony Blair insists on several points : first, he states about the present situation of the country and the issues it has to face; then, he sums up past deeds, whether good or bad, in order to finally conclude about his propositions for the term to come.

The England of 2000 is no more the country Tony Blair has known four years ago. Northern Ireland has launched a peace process since 1994, renewed in 1996, and has faced many confrontations. The outside world has changes too : the growing globalisation, the economic and social changes has profoundly shaped up a new area. Two difficulties are to be dealt with : how to find a place for United Kingdom in the world and how to face the consequences of globalisation on a domestic scene.
From the beginning of his speech, he seems to allude to the Northern Ireland's situation. Actually, confrontations have been numerous through the past decade. He affirms that “Britain is stronger together, than separated apart” (l.1) and repeat it with “United Kingdom” (l.23). We can wonder if he does not also refer to the devolution for Scotland and Wales : indeed, since 1997, both have acquired the right to constitute their own Parliament thanks to him. What Tony Blair states is that the United Kingdom is not that united at that point, especially for the Northern Ireland.
On on domestic scene, Blair measures the consequences of globalisation that even “question systems constructed around the nation