Scottish Political WWW Pages

'Representation without the power to tax is a recipe for political irresponsibility.' Lord Home, former Conservative Prime Minister, 1979.

Scottish Political Web Pages

STV

Fairshare - a cross-party organisation campaigning for the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system of proportional representation for Scottish local elections.

Politicians

The Unofficial Helen Liddell Fan Pages

Jack McConnell is Cool

Independence and Nationalism

The Politics of Devolution - Open University
Introduces the historical process of devolution in the UK, and the relation between national identities and UK politics. The key concepts of nation and nation-state are explained in the context of the tensions between political centre and periphery. The unit clearly sets out the current asymmetrical devolution settlements for Scotland, Wales and Ireland, including their different devolved powers. It also speculates about the future and possible extension of governance beyond Westminster, including a glance at the European dimension.

Nationalism, Self-determination and the Politics of Secession - Open University
Introduces the political and philosophical debate about the revival of nationalism which threatens to break up old multinational states like Britain, Spain and Canada. Key concepts include political identity, nationalism, and self-determination, and there is a core discussion of the democratic implications of secession. If, for example a majority of Scots supported Scottish independence, what kind of voting, by which group of citizens, should settle the matter democratically?

A Europe of the Regions - Open University
One of the most widely discussed accounts of how Europe is developing, and might develop further, is the vision of a decentralised 'Europe of the Regions.' In this scenario, the centralised power of the large traditional nation-states will be further eroded from above, by forces like globalisation and the growth of the supra-state institutions of the EC; and from below, by the increasing activity and autonomy of smaller sub-state units, like large regions, the German Lander, and smaller nations like Scotland. The unit critically assesses the likelihood of this outcome by examining both empirical political developments and competing visions of Europe's future. Key concepts include regionalism, regional networking, and multi-level governance.

The Scottish Independence Guide. By Joe Middleton. A complete and comprehensive guide to Scottish independence.

Hamish Mitchell's Scot's Independence Tour - A must for anyone interested in the Scottish Constitutional scene!

The Nationalism Project - by Eric Zuelow

Scotland 99 - Rebirth of a Nation. German Documentary

Stewart Stevenson's Political page

Structures of Nationalism

Pressure Groups - Home Rule

Scottish Peoples Mission - run by Robbie the Pict

Scottish Constitutional Convention - Blueprint for a Scotttish Assembly

Other Pressure Groups

Scottish Trades Union Congress - sometimes described as the political wing of the Labour Party in Scotland.

Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Friends of the Earth Scotland

Equal Opportunities Commission - Scotland.

Local Government

The New Councils by the University of Dundee.