Reasons I'm in Love with England: #29 the Falkland Islands

I don't know if this is an entirely appropriate thing to 'love' about England/Britain, seeing as the history of the Falkland Islands is rife with conflict, debate, unending disputes, even culminating in armed aggression and bloodshed. Also, seeing as they're 8,000 miles away from England in the South Atlantic, they're more of an extension of England, rather than England itself.

But as you may, or may not, know, I'm in the middle of two absolutely fascinating research projects surrounding the Falklands. The first, for my class on Settler Colonialism, is looking into the various claims extended over the islands by different nations in the early history of the islands, as well as the role that settlers played in the ensuing international legal battles for ultimate sovereignty over the islands.

The second project, for my War and Society in Modern Britain class, is looking beyond all of the unresolved disputes in the early history of the islands and instead focuses on the culmination of the Falklands conflict, the war between Britain and Argentina in 1982. With this project, I'm investigating why exactly it was that Britain went to war over the islands, and what kind of social/political effects the war had for the Thatcher government.

The more I read and the more I think about the Falklands, the more I am fascinated at the way history has played out. So, while it may not be appropriate to consider this a 'love', it is definitely turning into a passion or obsession...

Did I mention, the islands themselves are absolutely beautiful?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Falkland_Islands