The problem of constructing Welsh identity on Internet sites in the twenty-first century
Throughout the previous century and the beginning of the present one, Welsh identity faced challenges from the British state, which tried to pursue a policy of assimilation, as well as from the English-language Internet and other aspects of globalization. But Wales retained its authentic culture and gained autonomy within the British state with the beginning of the devolution in 1998. Active support for the Welsh national identity became a priority for the new authority, the National Assembly. At the same time, traditional ways of reproducing national identity in the fields of education, politics and culture yielded results, but were subject to the use of a new dimension, i.e. the virtual Internet space. The problem of this study was to identify how Welsh identity manifests itself on the Internet, in which areas of society it is in demand and to what extent it is connected with the symbols and concepts existing in reality. The major markers that have been identified as a result of the analysis of websites are the symbols traditional for the Welsh: the red dragon, the national flag, the emblem of the Prince of Wales, daffodils and the Welsh language. The construction of the modern Welsh identity is also closely related to the promotion of the ‘Wales’ brand. All this is, on the one hand, part of a focused regional national policy and, on the other, a private manifestation of Welsh identity, which is reflected on the websites of media and public organizations, state bodies and municipalities, business campaigns and educational institutions. The visual and textual content of these websites clearly reveals them as part of the modern Welsh culture, and therefore Welsh identity.