Transcript Scotland: Post-devolution, Pre

Caledonia Dreaming
Sara Dybris McQuaid, Arhus University
Scottish Writers on independence (Sept
2014):
 Val McDermid:
 Irvine Welsh:
‘When you realise you're in a
relationship in which the two of
you want different things, where
your hopes and dreams are taking
you in different directions, you
don't hesitate because you're not
sure what you're going to get in
the divorce settlement; you make
the decision and then you sort
things out afterwards.’
‘With its morally bankrupt party
system, zero-esteemed career
politicians, and plethora of
coverups and conspiracies
reaching into the heart of a seedy,
decadent, self-serving
establishment in business, politics,
the media and the judiciary, the
UK is now perceived as a failed
state by many of its citizens. It has
entrenched the entitlement of
power and privilege above that of
the aspiration to any true
democracy.’
Scottish Writers on independence (Sept
2014)
 John Burnside:
 Janice Galloway:
‘Naturally, I favour independence, not
just for Scots, but for all citizens, which
is why I reject the SNP's phoney
independence referendum in
September. For me, real independence
would mean liberation, finally, from a
feudal system in which more than half
of Scotland is owned by fewer than
500 people and where, last year, the
government paid out £663,695,661 in
agricultural, forestry and foodprocessing subsidies, much of it to rich
individuals and corporations.’
‘It seems a long time ago now, but
what I looked forward to in the runup
to September 2014 was information.
I'd be briefed, right? I'd hear a positive
and strong pro-union case and a strong
and positive independence case. I
thought I deserved that much. What
has been most genuinely shocking this
far down the line is the tenor of the no
campaign’
Scottish Writers on independence (Sept
2014)
 AL Kennedy:
 Different aspirations
‘It's both inspiring and depressing
to see how interested and excited
an electorate can become when
they are given the chance to
consider possible futures that have
(quite often) not been prepackaged and spun by party
machines. Scotland on both sides
of the yes/no divide is considering
paths ahead that diverge from the
tottering Westminster model, and
is largely embracing ideas of
national identity that aren't based
on racist assumptions.’
 Moribund System
 Radical change
 Quality of debate
 Different level of engagement
Caledonia Dreaming
 What Kind of Nation?
 The Evolution of
Devolution
 #Indyref: New Media, New
Politics?
 The Future of Self-
Determination
What kind of Nation?
What characterises a nation (Smith, 2001)
Nation
Proper Name
Common myths
Shared history
Common public culture
Occupation of Homeland
Common rights and duties
Single Economy
Key Motifs and Orientations of
Nationalisms
Motifs
 Autonomy
 Unity
 Identity
 Authenticity
 Homeland
 Dignity
 Continuity
 Destiny
Orientations
 Right/left;
 ethnic/civic;
 past/future;
 local/global (place);
 Traditional/progressive?
 corporatist/neo-liberal;
 separatist/autonomist.
Self-determination
 A concept in political philosophy
and in international law
 Popular selfdetermination vs
national self-determination
 Big question: is self-determination
an attribute of nationalities or of
peoples?
 Bigger question: does self-
determination require a political
expression?
 What drives Self-determination/
independence movements?
 Autonomy
 Competence
 Relating and connecting to others.
Varieties of Scottish independence:
 Liberal democracy, but
 Independence from the
which one?
 SNP: from Scotland within
the empire – to
independence (though still
involving forms of union).
 Independent statehood
(but what kind of internal
and external sovereignty,
autonomy)
designated ‘other’
 Becoming independent
 Changing nature of
debate:
1.
Capacity
2.
Precedents, procedures
The Evolution of
Devolution
The evolution of devolution
 Home Rule debates:
 1880s
 1960-70s
 1990s
 2010s
 Significant differences
between UK nations
 The rise of ethnic politics
 Democratic renewal of the
Union
 From ‘Devo-max’ to
independence
 Administrative Devolution
 Asymmetric Devolution
 (un)Anticipated
consequences of
Devolution
 Thatcherism
 The changing Nature of
the debate
Administrative devolution (short of
political institutions)
 Recognition of differences and different needs, symbolic and
substantive functions
 Scottish Office (1885)
 Welsh Office (1964)
 Politicians drawn from territories, based in territories (not ruled by
‘Englishmen’)
 Secretary of State (considered representative in cabinet) Scotland
1926, Wales 1964
 Northern Ireland – direct rule from 1972- 1999 (and again from 2002
– 2007) sec of state never from NI
Asymmetric devolution
 The right to make primary or only secondary legislation
 Different areas devolved
 Parliament or assembly
 Electoral system (PR) possibly leading to different forms of
government
(un)anticipated consequences of current
devolution
 4 distinct centers of political power, each governed by different
parties (since 2007-2010)
 Distinctive territorial policy agendas have emerged (different
‘national conversations’ and policy divergence)
 No institutions to think ‘in the round’ – no minister for devolution =
lack of overall strategy
 Decline of Labour and public spending (devolution born in benign
times – same party in power all-round)
 The ‘English question’
 Devolution did not ‘kill nationalism stone-dead’
The conservative (Thatcherite) legacy
driving Scottish independence?

To her devolution added a layer of
bureaucracy.

Scotland over-represented and subsidized

‘conditions of dependency are conditions
for socialism’

Closed industry – subject to market terms

Attacked self-governing institutions of
civil society

Poll-tax (1989) introduced first in Scotland

To Scotland it was not a question of a
struggle between capitalism and socialism
but between Scottish traditions and
English policy (Mitchell 1996).

Does this explain the push for
independence today?
#Indyref #wearenational
New Media, New Politics
Not a campaign – a movement!
 Documenting Yes
 Festival of Ideas
 Yestivals
 Sessions
 Debates
 Books
 DIY culture, network politics
and flat organisation
The plot thickens 6. Sept 2014
Better Together (or Bitter together?)
The perils of negative campaigning
 http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=OLAewTVmkAU
From 1 Question to third option
Who was to blame (or credit)
for the 2 turn arounds in the
campaign?
Core issues in the independence debate
Tangibles
 External relations/security
(EU, NATO, borders, trident)
 Economy (Pound, Oil, Banks,
Trade)
 Culture (Monarchy, BBC,
Sports)
 Society (mobility, NHS,
immigration)
Intangibles
 Ideals (democracy,
institutions)
 Spirit (hopes not fears)
 Imagination (future not past)
 Values (social, gender)
More than self-government
 ‘What kind of Scotland do we want to live in’?
 More than template politics
 Self more than marketised, consumer-driven self.
 Economic self-determination
 Social self-determination
 Cultural self-determination
 Futures self-determination
Election results: 55,7% 44,7% (#45)
Academics, broken down
Future self-determination: iScotland rUK
 Britain on borrowed time?
 Where now for #indyref?
 A country divided?
 How will devo-max work?
 English votes for English
laws?
 What about rUK?
 Will SNP be the party of
‘Social Justice’?
 What will happen to Lib/Lab
in Scotland?
 Nordic Horizons for the Isles?
 Lessons from Ireland?
 When is self-determination
and secession justified?
 International consequences?