Scotland

The new state of an old nation

Murray Stewart Leith, Duncan Sim

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781784992552
• eBook ISBN: 9781526127808
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Scottish History
• Index: History

Scotland's future in the Union is in question. Since Devolution in 1997, there has been a sea-change in Scotland's sense of itself. A distinct Scottish political culture has emerged: confident, assertive and increasingly divergent from that of its southern neighbours. Yet, as this timely and perceptive book shows, Scottish nationalism has been on the rise since the Second World War. Today, the Scottish National Party are in the ascendant, winning nearly half of all votes cast in the 2019 General Election and most of the seats. The Scottish Parliament has been a legislative trail-blazer, enacting progressive legislation well before England and Wales. And Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, putting it at odds with much of the rest of the United Kingdom on the most important political decision this century. The country has transformed from the socially and politically conservative climate of the post-war period to a nation contemplating, for the second time, a move to independence – for all the uncertainty and turmoil that would bring. At a time when the country's future has topped the agenda in Britain and abroad, this book unpicks the complex weave of Scottish politics, society and culture, providing an essential insight into Scotland's present – and its future.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Tables
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 When was Scotland?
• Chapter 3 Scotland’s identity
• Chapter 4 Images of Scotland
• Chapter 5 Learning and working Scotland
• Chapter 6 Scotland and gender
• Chapter 7 ‘Ethnic’ Scotland
• Chapter 8 Political Scotland
• Chapter 9 Elites in Scotland
• Chapter 10 Scotland abroad
• Chapter 11 Scotland in England
• Chapter 12 Art and culture in Scotland
• Chapter 13 Scotland, tourism and heritage
• Chapter 14 Scotland and sport
• Chapter 15 ConclusionContemporary Scotland
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index