SCOTLAND AND THE
NORWEGIAN MODEL
Is Scotland on the road to
becoming the ”New Norway”?
Let’s explore…
Election Victory for the SNP
• 5 May 2011:
• The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a majority in the elections
to the Scottish Parliament
• SNP formed a majority government for Scotland (In minority govt
since 2007)
• Party leadership pledged to hold a referendum on Scottish
independence within the lifetime of the new parliament
• The starting point for two themes we will be exploring:
1.
The SNPs use of Norway as a model for a future independent Scotland (today)
2.
The constitutional implications of the SNP’s bid for Scottish
independence (later)
Address at Prestonfield
•
SNP-leader Alex Salmond’s victory speech was held at
Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh
•
Here he outlined his plans of holding a referendum on Scottish
independence, in Scotland
Our Focus Today
• Who are the SNP and what
are their policies?
• Which role has the Norwegian
model played in the SNP´s
argumentation for
independence?
The Scottish Parliament
• A devolved assembly:
• Parliament with legislative powers for
Scotland
• Executive led by Scottish ”First Minister”
• The United Kingdom remains a unitary
state:
• British Parliament can withdraw powers, or
abolish Scottish Parliament altogether
– in theory at least…
The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh
Neighbour: the Palace of Holyrood
Who are the SNP?
• The SNP is a single-issue separatist party
• Formed in 1934 - one of the oldest in Europe
• Primary objective: The creation of an independent
Scottish state
• Political platform: Social democratic (usually to the
left of Labour)
• Party logo: A stylised combination of the cross of the
Scottish flag the Satire, and the Scottish national
symbol of the Thistle
The Flags – and what they tell us
The Policies of the SNP
• The main objective of independence takes precedence
over other issues.
• How does the SNP argue for independence?
• Nation-state argument: Scotland is a historic nation which
“deserves” to become an independent state, that is the only
“natural” thing
• Economic argument: Scotland would be better off as an
independent state, than it is today within the British union
• Comparisons:
• Contrast between Scotland and the rest of the UK, and England
in particular
• Use of “model countries” of a similar size – ex. Norway
The Norwegian Model
• Argument:
Norway has been a preferred model for the SNP’s
vision for an independent Scotland over time
• Why?
• Useful to compare oneself with a largely
”successful” country?
• Are there many actual similarities between
Scotland and Norway?
Similarities: Scotland - Norway
Oil & Welfare
• It’s Scotland’s oil!
• Social democratic SNP admires Norwegian welfare model
• The Norwegian State’s Oil Fund since 1996 – Scottish equivalent?
• It’s the economy stupid! Norwegian model provides the SNP with a
seemingly solid economic argument for independence
Natural resources in general
• Scotland has similar types of natural resources to Norway
• Could they become the backbone of the economy of an
independent Scotland ?
Fish Farming
A Scottish Embrace?
Conclusion
Why does the SNP use Norway as a model for a future
independent Scotland?
1. An election strategy:
Set Scotland apart from the rest of the UK/England
2. The ”New Norway”:
The SNP genuinely believes in the comparison, and
thinks that an independent Scotland can go the
”Norwegian way” – Scotland can become the new
Norway
- What do you think?