The Case for Scottish Independence: A History of Nationalist Political Thought in Modern Scotland

Description

Scottish nationalism is a powerful movement in contemporary politics, yet the goal of Scottish independence emerged surprisingly recently into public debate. The origins of Scottish nationalism lie not in the medieval battles for Scottish statehood, the Acts of Union, the Scottish Enlightenment, or any other traditional historical milestone. Instead, an influential separatist Scottish nationalism began to take shape only in the 1970s and achieved its present ideological maturity in the course of the 1980s and 1990s. The nationalism that emerged from this testing period of Scottish history was unusual in that it demanded independence not to defend a threatened ancestral culture but as the most effective way to promote the agenda of the left. This accessible and engaging account of the political thought of Scottish nationalism explores how the arguments for Scottish independence were crafted over some fifty years by intellectuals, politicians and activists, and why these ideas had such a seismic impact on Scottish and British politics in the 2014 independence referendum.

Ben Jackson is Associate Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford and Co-Editor of Political Quarterly. He is the author of Equality and the British Left (2007) and the co-editor (with Robert Saunders) of Making Thatcher's Britain (2012).

'Sure to become a landmark study, this book maps the intellectual heritage of Scottish nationalism with unrivalled clarity and precision. Ben Jackson re-opens the subject for scholars and students alike, patiently revealing complexity and continuity beneath the shifting electoral surface. Lucid, penetrating and timely.' Scott Hames, University of Stirling 'A well-written and thoroughly researched book outlining the intellectual formation of a civic nationalism in Scotland that set its face against ethnic and racial notions of Scottishness and instead formulated an ideal of using independence as a way to create a socially progressive and outward looking Scotland. It is important in demonstrating that ideas and intellectual engagement by the political left can profoundly influence the development of national identity in a positive direction.' Richard Finlay, University of Strathclyde 'This is a timely and thoughtful scholarly account of the intellectual currents for Scottish independence. Jackson charts the evolution of a Scotland that has become increasingly distinct from the rest of the UK; one that is diverse and has embraced an independence of the mind - articulating and representing a political community and nation that is slowly and inexorably escaping the confines of the British state.' Gerry Hassan, University of Dundee 'A thoughtful, well-written and rich, historical assessment of the development of the ideology of modern Scottish nationalism. Ben Jackson's careful attention to the shifting character of its leading arguments, and analysis of the implications of changing political contexts, make this a compelling and important work for anyone seeking to understand the rise and character of nationalist politics in Scotland.' Michael Kenny, University of Cambridge 'Excellent ... the book threads together the overarching themes and beliefs of the modern SNP with incredible clarity and detail.' Jamie Maxwell, The National 'A powerful account, beautifully written and edited, of some of the sheer richness of thought that has been generated by Scotland's constitutional debate over the last century.' Joyce McMillan, Scotland on Sunday '... [an] excellent, well-researched and insightful account of several decades ...' David Gow, Sceptical Scot 'The Case for Scottish Independence thus fills a key hole in the literature on Scottish nationalism by taking seriously the political and theoretical debates which provide the intellectual foundations for it as a social and political movement. As such, it represents a hugely important contribution to British political history, and it is a work which will doubtlessly become part of the canon on Scottish politics.' Jennifer Thomson, LSE Review of Books 'Ben Jackson's intricate account of the intellectual development of Scottish nationalism marks a highly original departure from the norm, and allows us to distinguish the various progressive themes that have since the 1960s enriched and transformed the populism of the SNP's pioneers.' Colin Kidd, London Review of Books '... Jackson's book offers an excellent contribution to the field on this topic at hand, and it is this well-delineated scope that underpins an engaging and welcome contribution for academics and a broader readership engaged in a tumultuous yet fascinating era for Scottish nationalist politics.' Stuart Whigham, Journal of British Studies '... an immensely welcome and helpful clarifying analysis ...' Alex Campsie, Renewal