Two Faces of British Nationalism: The Scottish National Party & Plaid Cymru Compared

Abstract

In the wake of the growing nationalist division of the British population, the nationalist parties have acquired an importance in British politics that is unprecedented in recent times. This article is a comparative study of the Scottish National party and the Welsh Plaid Cymru. Despite a similarity of motivations and interests, the author finds important ideological differences, which are partly due to the historical context. Although the Plaid Cymru is decidedly on the political left while the Scottish National party more often stands right of center, there is enough common interest to support an alliance that may threaten the presently weak power structure at Westminster.