Celebrating a Scottish past: construction, contestation and the role of government

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article explores the use of the Scottish past in the production and promotion of official national celebrations in contemporary Scotland. Through the examination of the devolved Scottish Government’s role in the creation of Themed Years and related staged events, this article reveals a political and economic desire to use the country’s diasporic heritage to promote an international profile independent from the United Kingdom, and to capitalize on the lucrative global tourist market. However, the Scottish Government’s reliance on the economic value of Scotland’s diaspora heritage leads to an uncomfortable tension between this and the brand of civic nationalism the Government is eager to promote. Finally, through close examination of government-orchestrated heritage events during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, this article reveals how specific narratives of the Scottish past were contested by heritage consumers and the rival political agenda of the United Kingdom Government.