The question as to whether the Falklands War constituted a revival of the imperial past has generated much conjecture, but little by way of deep scholarly analysis. This is a question of major relevance in the Falkland Islands, where the local inhabitants have been trying to distance themselves from the image of being a ‘relic of empire’, stressing the principle of self-determination in their choice to remain British. And it is also important in Britain, where the Falklands continue to resurface in the context of the ongoing debate about the scope and meaning of British identity. To tackle this issue, the Introduction outlines the historical controversy over whether the Falklands War was a species of ‘imperial atavism’ and suggests an alternative approach, offering a wide-angle shot of the dispute through the transnational lens of Greater Britain. It therefore outlines the intellectual origins of this idea, as well as its development. Finally, it stresses the importance of using a variety of sources, arguing that rhetoric and symbols should not be dismissed as a mere smokescreen, but should rather be seen as key indicators of the lineaments of a political culture.