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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| United Kingdom profile | United Kingdom profile |
| (5 months later) | |
| The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the EU, UN and Nato. | The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the EU, UN and Nato. |
| The twentieth century saw Britain having to redefine its place in the world. At the beginning of the century, it commanded a world-wide empire as the foremost global power. | The twentieth century saw Britain having to redefine its place in the world. At the beginning of the century, it commanded a world-wide empire as the foremost global power. |
| Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role, but the UK remains an economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world. | Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role, but the UK remains an economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world. |
| Britain was the world's first industrialised country. Its economy remains one of the largest, but it has for many years been based on service industries rather than on manufacturing. | Britain was the world's first industrialised country. Its economy remains one of the largest, but it has for many years been based on service industries rather than on manufacturing. |
| The process of deindustrialisation has left behind lasting social problems and pockets of economic weakness in parts of the country. | The process of deindustrialisation has left behind lasting social problems and pockets of economic weakness in parts of the country. |
| More recently, the UK has suffered a deep economic slump and high public debt as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, which revealed its over-reliance on easy credit, domestic consumption and rising house prices. | More recently, the UK has suffered a deep economic slump and high public debt as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, which revealed its over-reliance on easy credit, domestic consumption and rising house prices. |
| Efforts to rein in the public debt - one of the developed world's highest - has led to deep cuts to welfare, government services and the military, prompting concern about social equality and a possible loss of international influence. | Efforts to rein in the public debt - one of the developed world's highest - has led to deep cuts to welfare, government services and the military, prompting concern about social equality and a possible loss of international influence. |
| Despite being a major member of the EU, the country is not part of the eurozone, and looks unlikely to join. Opposition to the EU's common currency was boosted by a feeling that the pound had softened the blow of the financial crisis and spared the UK the eurozone crisis. | Despite being a major member of the EU, the country is not part of the eurozone, and looks unlikely to join. Opposition to the EU's common currency was boosted by a feeling that the pound had softened the blow of the financial crisis and spared the UK the eurozone crisis. |
| More generally, anti-EU feeling, fed by a concern over national sovereignty and perceptions of diminished autonomy, is strong among Britons. | More generally, anti-EU feeling, fed by a concern over national sovereignty and perceptions of diminished autonomy, is strong among Britons. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron, under pressure from the Eurosceptic right of his Conservative Party, has promised that, if he is re-elected in 2015, he will hold a referendum on leaving the European Union, and will seek radical EU reform beforehand to justify continued membership. | Prime Minister David Cameron, under pressure from the Eurosceptic right of his Conservative Party, has promised that, if he is re-elected in 2015, he will hold a referendum on leaving the European Union, and will seek radical EU reform beforehand to justify continued membership. |
| Critics say risking a British exit from the EU could mean courting economic disaster, as most of the UK's international trade is within the EU. | Critics say risking a British exit from the EU could mean courting economic disaster, as most of the UK's international trade is within the EU. |
| In response to growing dissatisfaction with the UK's traditionally highly centralised nature, the London government devolved powers to separate parliaments in Scotland and Wales in 1999. | In response to growing dissatisfaction with the UK's traditionally highly centralised nature, the London government devolved powers to separate parliaments in Scotland and Wales in 1999. |
| But this did not stop the centrifugal trend. A nationalist government has been in power in Scotland since 2007. A referendum on independence was held in September 2014, with 55% of voters opting to remain as part of the United Kingdom and 45% favouring independence. | |
| In Northern Ireland, after decades of violent conflict, the Good Friday agreement of 1998 led to a new assembly with devolved powers, bringing hopes of lasting peace. | In Northern Ireland, after decades of violent conflict, the Good Friday agreement of 1998 led to a new assembly with devolved powers, bringing hopes of lasting peace. |
| Diversity | Diversity |
| The UK is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of empire. Lately, the country has been struggling with issues revolving around multiculturalism, immigration and national identity. | The UK is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of empire. Lately, the country has been struggling with issues revolving around multiculturalism, immigration and national identity. |
| Concerns about terrorism and Islamist radicalism heightened after the suicide bomb attacks on London's transport network in 2005. | Concerns about terrorism and Islamist radicalism heightened after the suicide bomb attacks on London's transport network in 2005. |
| There has also been a debate about immigration. Some advocate tough policies on limiting immigration, others attempt to put the case for it as a positive force. | There has also been a debate about immigration. Some advocate tough policies on limiting immigration, others attempt to put the case for it as a positive force. |
| One of the more recent trends in migration has been the arrival of workers from the new EU member states in Eastern Europe. | One of the more recent trends in migration has been the arrival of workers from the new EU member states in Eastern Europe. |
| Culture | Culture |
| The UK has been a major force in global youth culture since the heyday of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s. | The UK has been a major force in global youth culture since the heyday of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s. |
| It has a rich literary heritage encompassing the works of English writers such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, Scot Robert Burns, Welshman Dylan Thomas and Northern Irishman Seamus Heaney. | It has a rich literary heritage encompassing the works of English writers such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, Scot Robert Burns, Welshman Dylan Thomas and Northern Irishman Seamus Heaney. |