FASS academic experts advise on new OU/BBC series Union with David Olusoga

From Monday 2 October, over four parts, fascinating new Open University/BBC co-production Union with David Olusoga explores the origins and development of the United Kingdom on BBCTwo at 21:00 and available on iPlayer.

Beginning with 'The Making of Britain: 1603 - 1707', historian David Olusoga starts the story of the Union in the 17th Century - an era of defined by deep religious divisions between Protestant and Catholic, the accession of King James VI of Scotland to the crown of England, the design of the Union flag, the Plantation of Ulster, and the Darien Scheme - a period of success and failure, of upheaval, protest, oppression and exploration.

Dr Dan Taylor, Lecturer in Social and Political Thought, was one of three OU academic consultants for the series, explained that “What makes Union thrilling and rather different is that it’s not afraid to ask difficult questions about what united disparate peoples in the past on these islands, whether it was religion, empire, war, class, or something else.”

The second episode delves into 'Creating Britishness: 1707 - 1806' in the face of opposition, rebellion, and war. Did you know that the Act of Union of 1707 was almost repealed in 1713 by a mere 4 votes?

Gerry Mooney, Emeritus Professor of Scottish Society and Social Welfare, was “very keen to be involved in the series when the project was first announced. It directly relates to different aspects of my ongoing research and interest in the demand for Scottish Independence, the politics of British Nationalism and also the wider issue of the potential fragmentation or the break-up of the UK.”

'The Two Nations: 1815 - 1851' – the third episode - examines the fractious and volatile relationships between rich and poor across the four nations of the United Kingdom, the rise of industrialism and of Chartism, and the catastrophic Great Famine.

Dan noted that “For me, one thing in the series I will not forget is the story of the famine roads in Ireland. Despite having Irish roots I’d never come across these before. It is a deeply shocking episode and one that shook me out of a complacent lack of knowledge about Ireland.” Senior Lecturer in History, Dr Helen O’Shea, felt “felt very lucky to be able to contribute to the core themes and ideas surrounding Union that are intrinsic to the Irish context. It’s been such a pleasure to work on this production with Dan and Gerry over the last couple of years.”

The final episode 'Union & Disunion: 1911 – present day' sees war, Partition in Ireland and re-organisation of the Union, industrial and economic decline, and the creation of the North-South divide, as well as new opportunities and challenges.

There are recurring themes throughout the series - Helen said “given the current pressing debate on the role social media plays in fostering societal unity or stoking disunity, I think viewers will be intrigued to learn just how crucial mechanised printing technology, mass literacy and mass communication were in the creation of nations and national identity during the late 18th and 19th Centuries.”

What does the future hold for the Union? Gerry noted that “The arguments and debates around the future of the UK today reflect a very turbulent past – often very contested, fought over and violent.

“It is the enduring legacies of that past that shape the different countries of the UK today, and Ireland too, and which also underpin debates around Scottish Independence, Irish re-unification, the demand for more Welsh devolution and, to an extent, Welsh Independence, and arguments for an English Parliament and Brexit.”

Find out more about the series and our academic consultants, and take an audio journey through six fascinating stories exploring the history of the Union via the OU Connect website.

Image credit: Wall to Wall Media / BBC