University of Colorado, Boulder CU Scholar Undergraduate Honors Theses Honors Program Spring 2012 The rB itish Monarchy: Symbolism and Salience in Times of Crisis Danielle Foss University of Colorado Boulder Follow this and additional works at: http://scholar.colorado.edu/honr_theses Recommended Citation Foss, Danielle, "The rB itish Monarchy: Symbolism and Salience in Times of Crisis" (2012). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 243. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Honors Program at CU Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of CU Scholar. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. The British Monarchy: Symbolism and Salience in Times of Crisis Danielle Foss University of Colorado Department of International Affairs April 3, 2012 Honors Thesis Committee: Primary Advisor: Dr. Susan Kent, Department of History IAFS Honors Director: Dr. Vicki Hunter, Department of International Affairs Secondary Advisor: Dr. Joseph Jupille, Department of Political Science Foss 2 Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..4 Theory to be Tested……………………………………………………………...10 The Research Design: Methodology…………………………………………..…14 Historical Overview………………...……………………………………………18 Literature Review………………………………………………………………...22 Findings………………………………………………………………………….28 George VI and the Second World War…………………………………..29 Elizabeth II and Decolonization………………………………………….34 Summary of Findings…………………………………………………….52 Alternate Hypotheses…………………………………………………………….59 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….62 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………..66 Foss 3 Abstract In this paper I endeavor to answer the question: what accounts for the British monarchy’s continued salience in British affairs? My hypothesis is that the monarchy is a symbol of continuity, stability, and British values during times of crisis or upheaval, and that the monarch’s performance of this essential function has resulted in an enduring relevance for the institution.