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This publication gives an outline of the political, economic and social structure, including the Government's policies as they affect Scotland. It covers a wide range of subjects, including government, the legal system, the economy, agriculture, transport, the environment, social welfare, education, culture and sport. ... Read more

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This is the first full scholarly study of state formation and the exercise of state power in Scotland. It sets the Scottish state in a British and European context, revealing that Scotland -- like larger and better-known states -- developed a more integrated governmental system in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is an important and controversial contribution to the history of Scotland. ... Read more

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Nationalist movements in Scotland and Quebec are enjoying a resurgence. "Hierarchies of Belonging" explores the construction of national identity and nationalism and its effect on how citizens of Scotland and Quebec understand their relationship to the nation and the state. Ailsa Henderson analyses each nation's linguistic, racial, cultural, economic, and political diversity within a historical and contemporary context. Challenging the assumption that nationalism in Scotland can be characterized as "civic" in contrast to an "ethnic" model in Quebec, Henderson adopts a more complex model of national identity that distinguishes between nationalistic rhetoric, which is invariably civic in form, and public understandings of belonging, which tend to rely on ethnic markers. In "Hierarchies of Belonging" she demonstrates that nationalist rhetoric and a sense of belonging affect how citizens feel about the state, the nation, and each other. ... Read more

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King James holds a unique place in British history, being the first monarch to be King of both Scotland and England. As a result of this unprecedented situation, he was compelled to pursue a set of highly distinctive policies in order to balance the often competing needs of the two countries, whilst also trying to promote a broader, British, interest. It was perhaps as a result of this, that James VI and I was an exceptional, expressing his ideas and aspirations by means of print, pen, and spoken word to an unparalleled degree. Herein lies much of the fascination of his reign, which is reflected in this volume. The book is divided into four main sections, each exploring a major theme of particular concern to James: the union of England and Scotland; the government of Scotland; religious unity; and James' involvement in culture as both author and patron. The essays address James' ideas at various levels: conception, representation, propagation and implementation.In so doing, the volume examines more fully aspects of James' objectives in these four key areas, helping to explain why some of them encountered opposition, and to evaluate the extent of his success in putting them into practice. This volume throws fresh light on the ways in which James communicated his ideas and designs to his subjects, and important foreign audiences, raising important questions about his judgement and skill as a monarch. ... Read more

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Taylor has spoken -on and off the record -to all the key players in Scotland´s developing political drama. He tells the inside story of Scotland´s Parliament -the drama, the horse-trading, and the gossip -as well as offering cool, dispassionate analysis. ... Read more

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This is an issue of our quarterly journal Hume Papers on Public Policy - the journal of the David Hume Institute. ... Read more

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The book provides a comprehensive account of the scope and variety of the work performed by the departments which are responsible to the Scottish ministers. ... Read more

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Criticism is at the heart of any political discussion, and criticism of old policies is central to the development of new ones. In its analysis of political decision-making, this reissue, first published in 1991, examines the principles which control the process of policy criticism. It identifies two fundamental and related obstacles to this process: the privileged status accorded to 'professional judgement' and the conflicting philosophical ideas that shape political argument. Based on the study of Europe's largest local authority, the book presents a theory of decision-making that can be applied to institutions at all levels. ... Read more

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Politics and Public Policy in Scotland is a major new introductory textbook written by leading authorities on the subject in a clear, accessible style. It contains substantial coverage of government, policy and administration, of the impact of successive Conservative governments on Scotland and of similarities and differences with the rest of the UK. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Cherishing the "British" zombie
I wasn't expecting to agree with, or even be particularly sympathetic to, Tom Nairn's New Left-based approach to issues of constitutions and sovereignty. But I found "After Britain" to be quite an educational look at the causes and consequences of the recreation of a Scottish parliament. I consider myself relatively well-versed in British history, but I think now I'll have to define "British" in much the same way Nairn does, as an invented identity meant to paper over "English," "Scottish," and other troublesome "ethnicities."

After the failure of New Labour to attempt -- let alone achieve -- any real constitutional reform, Nairn argues that even in 2000 the Blairite ascendancy was already little more than an exercise in decline-management. He makes the case that Blairism intended a reconstituted Scottish parliament to keep the natives subdued, give the illusion of reform, and head off more extreme forms of nationalism and separatism. "Its aim was like that of local government reform: rejuvenation through good sense and reasonableness, and the more effective dissemination of centrally-cooked wisdom" (p. 277). As a part of Blair's campaign to turn Britons into inmates of the world's largest playpen -- always monitored, always entertained, protected from sharp objects, and in rude health whether they like it or not -- it must have seemed like a good idea in Number 10.

The problem, Nairn says, is that the creaking architecture of the 1707 Treaty of Union can't handle the strain. So long as the English and Scots (and other national minorities) shared the outward-looking project of the British Empire, all was well. But since the end of the war, "a congenitally imperial state form has been struggling to adapt itself, not just to change but to accelerating rapids of transformation ... [and] to do so without reforming its historical or constitutional mainframe" (p. 167). The sole remaining prop of "Britishness" is an acceptance of the sovereignty of the Crown-in-[Westminster] Parliament. When the institutions of the state decay, and a Holyrood parliament begins its inevitable competition for a share of sovereignty, there is no "nation" left to hold Britain together. Thus, Nairn concludes, the driving force is less the "re-internalizing" of Scottish nationhood than the fact that "the contradictions within United Kingdom Sovereignty itself are sufficient in themselves for an analysis of break-up" (p. 190).

The author covers an awful lot of ground in this book, including the inevitable discussion of "Westlothianism," and his analysis raises a host of related issues. For example: the Government's parallel emphasis on making sure "Englishness" is never permitted to reassert itself -- thus the association of English symbols like the cross of St. George with soccer hooligans, crusaders, and other unpleasant types. I have no idea what Mr. Nairn may think of the comparison, but his prose reminded me strongly of Christopher Hitchens' in that the two have very distinct and personal prose voices. That voice sometimes got in the way of immediate comprehension -- but rereading not only gave a second opportunity to enjoy the writing but to figure out the meaning as well. (And I was pleased to find a writer who seems to enjoy parenthetical statements as much as I do.)

A fair amount has happened in the years since this book was published, and yet it struck me, from this distance, as not at all out of date. My new project is to track down anything Tom Nairn may have written to update his conclusions here. I suspect it's rather a lot. But Devolution is an interesting occurrence in its own right and one with lessons for other parts of the world. I still share few of Nairn's philosophical premises, but I found his book to be a valuable addition to a discussion that has important and far-reaching implications. ... Read more

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General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1878Original Publisher: Stevens and HaynesSubjects: LawScotlandHistory / Europe / Great BritainLaw / GeneralLaw / Administrative Law ... Read more

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more