Abstract
<p class="Body1">In 2014 the issue of constitutional change in the UK brought about by an agreement between the UK and Scottish Government, for a referendum on Scottish independence, created the motivation for widespread political engagement with the formal political process. Scottish citizens – including newly enfranchised 16 and 17 year olds – were debating, discussing and disagreeing about opting out of one of the world’s richest countries. This was an unusual situation and one that nearly happened despite a hostile corporate, political and mainstream media response to the demand for independence. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that this movement for change was the result of narrow-minded nationalism. Although the Referendum result was that Scotland should remain in the UK the process also produced widespread politicization of ordinary people. The cultural politics of communities had engaged with the political culture of the state and the dialectic between the two generated educational experiences and opened up new political possibilities.</p><div><p class="Body1"> </p></div>
Highlights
In 2014 the issue of constitutional change in the UK brought about by an agreement between the UK and Scottish Government, for a referendum on Scottish independence, created the motivation for widespread political engagement with the formal political process
The Referendum in Context In October 2010 the UK Government agreed that the Scottish Government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), could host a referendum on independence on the condition that there was a single unambiguous question with a yes or no answer
The act of collectively giving witnessed in George Square is today echoed in the act of collective political thinking
Summary
In October 2010 the UK Government agreed that the Scottish Government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), could host a referendum on independence on the condition that there was a single unambiguous question with a yes or no answer. The two-year run in to the referendum created the possibility of plenty of opportunities for debate and discussion across the nation This time period was critical to the educative nature of the campaign. In 1997, the Scottish referendum on devolution backed the establishment of a new Parliament with 75% majority in favour (see Crowther, Martin and Shaw 2003) The SNP had, only tacitly supported this campaign because its priority was something greater – Scottish independence. Whilst support for the SNP had grown in Scottish politics the electorate still voted mainly for Labour in UK national elections. The main political parties for independence (the SNP, The Scottish Greens and the Scottish Socialist Party) are witnessing a surge in party membership levels and electoral support. The meanings of nationalism in the campaign needs to be clarified and assessed
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