I usually think that one of the more charming British characteristics is the national tendency to self-deprecation and under-statement. Let the Americans preen about "sole superpowers"; let the French natter about "l’exception Francaise" - the British just get on with it. But there is an important qualification to this rule. Every now and then the British fall prey to a bout of national self-congratulation. When that happens - take cover. It is usually a sign of impending catastrophe.

There are three recent examples of bouts of national hubris - followed by a swift come-uppance. First - and most immediately - there was the self-congratulation about how well we were handling the global financial crisis. Second, there was the pride over how much better the British army was at policing Iraq than the Americans. Finally, there was the period when it was conventional wisdom that the British model of integration was infinitely superior to that of the French.

Take the financial crisis first. Only last week, the spin coming out of the Bank of England was that the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve had over-reacted. The bank, with its centuries of experience, understood the risks of "moral hazard". A week later - and the ECB and the Fed are looking comparatively good. It is Britain that has had the bank run and the embarrassing policy reversals.

It is all curiously reminiscent of Britain’s bout of self-congratulation, just after the occupation of Iraq.

Then, it was the conventional wisdom here that the British army knew how to get on with the natives, while the Americans were blundering and over-aggressive. "See how we patrol in berets, and hand out sweeties to local children - that’s the way to do it," was the general refrain. Even at the time, this caused a certain amount of teeth-grinding at the Pentagon. But now that the British have effectively been driven out of Basra, boasting about our brilliant "light touch" patrolling seems particularly ill-advised.

Then, there is the vexed question of integrating Muslims. Just a few years ago, the Brits were charmingly over-confident about our multi-cultural model of integration. It was conventional wisdom that the French had got it wrong. Insisting that immigrants conform, making a fuss about headscarfs - no wonder that tensions were rising in the banlieus! But British complacency on this score was displaced in tragic fashion, by the tube bombings of 2005.

One area where British hubris has generally had to give way to reality is sport. On the playing field, any claims to world leadership are subject to constant and often humiliating reality checks. The English rugby team went into this month’s Rugby World Cup, under the slogan "Shock the World". Unfortunately, we have done just that. In a shockingly bad performance, the team went down 36-0 to South Africa.

The only consolation is that this has provoked a bout of national self-mockery, which is rather healthier than chest-beating.

Yes, self-deprecation and modesty - we really do lead the world in that. As they say, "when it comes to modesty, we’re tops."

September 20th, 2007 in Culture | Permalink