The Scottish question / James Mitchell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mitchell, James, 1960- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Self-determination, National--Scotland.

Self-determination, National.

Home rule--Scotland.

Home rule.

Politics and government.

Scotland.

Scotland--Politics and government--21st century.

Physical Description:

308 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2014.

Summary:

Over half a century ago, a leading commentator suggested that Scotland was very unusual in being a country which was, in some sense at least, a nation but in no sense a state. He asked whether something 'so anomalous' could continue to exist in the modern world. This book considers how Scotland has retained its sense of self, and how the country has changed against a backdrop of fundamental changes in society, economy, and the role of the state over the course of the union. The Scottish Question has been a shifting mix of linked issues and concerns including national identity; Scotland's constitutional status and structures of government; Scotland's distinctive party politics; and everyday public policy. In this volume, James Mitchell explores how these issues have interacted against a backdrop of these changes. He concludes that while the independence referendum may prove an important event, there can be no definitive answer to the Scottish Question. This book offers a fresh interpretation of what has made Scotland distinctive and how this changed over time, drawing on an array of primary and secondary sources. It challenges a number of myths, including how radical Scottish politics has been, and suggests that an oppositional political culture was one of the most distinguishing features of Scottish politics in the twentieth century. A Scottish lobby, consisting of public and private bodies, became adept in making the case for more resources from the Treasury without facing up to some of Scotland's most deep-rooted problems.

Contents:

1 Introduction: The Scottish Question 1

2 Groundings 17

3 From Night-Watchman to Interventionist State 38

4 Consolidating Scottish Governance 62

5 Pioneers 87

6 The Right to Be Taken Seriously 113

7 Era of Planning and Social Conservatism 131

8 Debating Devolution 156

9 Bringing Harmony and Hope 187

10 Here's to the Next Time 216

11 Devolution in Action 247

12 The Scottish Question: Interminable and Unanswerable 275.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-297) and index.

ISBN:

9780199688654

0199688656

OCLC:

869726314

Publisher Number:

60001925234