What will democracy and representation be in an independent Scotland?
Scotland: The New State of an Old Nation
Author / Creator: Murray Stewart Leith
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
The country has transformed from the socially and politically conservative climate..to a nation contemplating a move to independence to achieve democracy and democratic legitimacy
The Political Class in Scotland
Author / Creator: Michael Keating
Date published: 2020
Scottish MSPs and MPs have become more middle class and professional politicans since Devolution
The Scottish Parliament
Author / Creator: Emily St Denny
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
Scottish Parliament has met some, but not all, of the public and policymakers’ original expectations.
Religion, Policy, and Politics
Author / Creator: Michael Rosie
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
Religion has made a core contribution to the shaping of the Scottish nation, and continues to influence its politics and policy.
Interest Groups and Policy Communities
Author / Creator: Iain MacLeod
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
the so-called ‘new politics’ that devolution was meant to espouse has instead continued the dominance of traditionally privileged groups.
Ethnic Minorities and Political Citizenship in Scotland
Author / Creator: Emma Hill
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
There is a gap between the ‘aspirational pluralism’ espoused by political elites, and Scotland’s record on the representation of ethnic minorities in politics.
Smaller Parties
Author / Creator: Alistair Clark
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
The effect of small parties has been to act as trailblazers for some developments but with little long term effect.
Political Behaviour in Scotland
Author / Creator: Ailsa Henderson
Date published: 2020
Are Scottish voters more engaged with politics since the Referendum. Do they view Scottish Parliament elections as primary or Westminster ones?
Elections and Electoral Systems
Author / Creator: James Mitchell
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
Elections have costs for voters—costs of time, getting involved, staying informed, reaching decisions, and casting a ballot.
Populism, democracy and a pedagogy of renewal
Author / Creator: Margaret Petrie
Media type: Academic Paper
Date published:
The implications of populism for adult education aimed at defending and extending democratic life. The conflation of agonistic democracy with left populism is questioned. We consider how a focus on education might help to ground their theory and clarify popppulism's ambiguities.
DEMOCRACY MAX A vision for a good Scottish democracy
Author / Creator: Electoral Reform Society
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published: 2013
- Sovereignty of the People – How do we return more power to the people?
- Defending our democracy – How do we stop vested interests having too much influence?
- How do we write the rules – How do we get the checks and balances our democracy needs?
Development councils; a proposal for a new system of local democracy in Scotland
Author / Creator: Common Weal
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published:
Scotland has the worst degree of local democracy in Europe. To correct this, Scotland should create a new tier of local democracy at the community level. The size and shape of each new democratic area should be defined by communities themselves. Each area should be represented by a Development Council, elected by every member of the community aged 16 or above.