Talk:British Isles/terminology draft

Terminology
As shown in the Origin of the term British Isles section, the classical geographical term had been adapted into English as a symbol of monarchical unification of England and Scotland, gradually gaining popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the same period the history of Ireland had been one of rebellion and brutal warfare, with harsh repression of Roman Catholic masses by a Protestant élite. Following crushing of a rebellion the Act of Union 1800 abolished Irish self-government altogether and created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Then at a time when increasing prosperity made all things British increasingly popular in Britain, attempts in Ireland to introduce Home Rule brought tensions between Irish nationalism and Unionism, with great nationalist antipathy to British rule. Rebellions led in 1922 to division of the former United Kingdom into two states, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland).

Current usage and attitudes in Ireland
At this point the term British Isles ceased to reflect political reality, but the name was widely established. The situation today is that in much of the world the term is defined as "Great Britain and Ireland and adjacent islands". This simple definition leaves out the crucial point emphasised by the BBC style guide, that "The British Isles is not a political entity. It is a geographical unit". The Irish government position is that British Isles is not an officially recognised term, and no branch of the Irish government, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in London, uses the term. In the Republic of Ireland generally the term is considered unacceptable and controversial, and the confusion between the geographical and political meanings can lead to considerable aggravation for Irish people abroad.

Alternative terms
There have been several suggestions for replacements for the term British Isles but no single one has yet won any wide acceptance. ... TO BE CONTINUED