The Head and the Heart. National Identity and Urban Planning in a Devolved Scotland

Abstract

Questions of identity and how it is changing under the influences of globalization and how in turn it is affecting government and policy processes have become increasingly to the fore in recent years. Despite shifts towards devolution in the UK and the anticipation of such processes heralding an opportunity for governance to better reflect national identity, little interest has been paid to the role of planning in such issues. An essential component of identity that has influenced attitudes towards planning is the role of myths. Two myths that have been significant for planning in Scotland are those of egalitarianism and radicalism, both of which have contributed towards the idea of Scottish planning being distinct from and superior to its English counterpart. These two myths form part of what Tom Nairn has termed the 'heart' of Scottish identity founded upon romantic, historic imagery of identity. The 'head' is formed by the realization of the need to compete economically in a globalized free-market. This paper explores how both the head and the heart are driving the future of Scottish planning through the devolved Parliament. It then goes on to address the institutional and political influences through the Scottish Parliament and the likely trajectory for change. It concludes that planning is becoming less a mechanism that reflects national identity and more of a facilitator for economic growth with important symbolic significance of distinctiveness.