The stateless nation of Scotland appears to be arrested in a peculiar, liminal ‘in-between time’.
The stateless nation of Scotland appears to be arrested in a peculiar, liminal ‘in-between time’. Thus far, three referenda on Scotland’s constitutional relationship with the UK have been held: with the result of ever more powers being devolved from Westminster to Holyrood. The most recent decision in 2014 has once again failed to settle the matter conclusively; and it would now seem that the current uncertainties surrounding the Brexit negotiations will prolong the wait for the foreseeable future.
Within this period of constitutional limbo, the patience, persistence and perseverance of the people of Scotland is continually being tested, and the prospect of a neverendum – an endless cycle of attempts to answer the Scottish question – appears increasingly daunting. This ... delineates the role that ‘waiting’ plays in the Scottish independence debate from the 60s up until the present day and seeks to determine in what way the cultural practices of waiting can take on particular significance in decision-making within the political realm.
Touching upon both temporal and spatial considerations, it ...show[s] that long periods of waiting can potentially lend legitimacy to a cause as well as shift the boundaries of agency. It will also address the questions of whether prolonged periods of stasis and ‘waiting in the wings’ can be counterproductive to achieving a desired telos, and will seek to ascertain whether this period of active inactivity in Scotland can or should be considered time wasted or time well-spent.