The Clash of (Scottish) Civilizations:
Local Culture and National Identity
Dr. Britt Cartrite
Solomon Asch Center for Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict
Milestones in Scottish History
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843 AD: Kenneth MacAlpin “unites” Scots and
Picts under his rule
1296: Annexation of Scotland by England under
Edward I
1314: Battle of Bannockburn – Scottish
independence restored under Robert Bruce
1603: James VI of Scotland becomes James I of
England
1638: National Covenant
1707: Union of Parliaments
Scottish Ethnopolitical Activism
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1820: Celtic Society of Edinburgh
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1853: National Association for the Vindication of
Scottish Rights; 1886: Scottish Home Rule Association
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1900: Young Scots Society; 1901: Scottish Patriotic
Association; 1904: Scottish National League
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1926: Scottish Nationalist Movement; 1934: Scottish
Party and SNM merge to form Scottish National Party
(SNP)
Population and Population Density
Scottish Identity
U K G e n e r a l E le c tio n s
2001
1997
1992
1987
1983
1979
1974 O c t
1974 F eb
1970
1966
1964
1959
1955
1951
1950
1945
1935
1931
1929
% S c o ttis h V o te s
General Election Votes
for the SNP
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1997 Referendum on Scottish Devolution
Referenda Yes Votes
Question 1: I agree that there
should be a Scottish Parliament
Question 2: I agree that a Scottish
Parliament should have tax-varying
powers
From Ethnic to Civic Nationalism?
Common Fisheries Program
Lerwick
Kirkwall
Stromness
Inverness
Aberdeen
Stonehaven
Portree
Stirling
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Hawick
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
Languages
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English
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
Languages
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English
Gaelic
Gaelic Speakers
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
Languages
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English
Gaelic
Scots
Auld Lang Syne
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie
waught,
For auld lang syne.
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
Languages
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English
Gaelic
Scots
(Pictish) Doric
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
Religion
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Anglican
Presbyterian
Catholic
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
Tartanry
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
Tartanry
Kailyard
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
Tartanry
Kailyard
Crofting
Dimensions of Scottish Identity:
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Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
Tartanry
Kailyard
Crofting
Jacobitism
Variations on Scottish Identity:
Edinburgh
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Gaelic
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Scots
Doric
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Anglican
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Presbyterian
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Catholic
Anti-English
Anti-Catholic
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Tartanry
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Kailyard
Crofting
Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Stirling
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Gaelic
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Scots
Doric
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Anglican
Presbyterian
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Catholic
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Anti-English
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Anti-Catholic
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Tartanry
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Kailyard
Crofting
Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Hawick
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Gaelic

Scots
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Doric
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
Anglican
Presbyterian

Catholic

Anti-English

Anti-Catholic

Tartanry

Kailyard

Crofting
Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Stonehaven
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Gaelic
Scots
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Doric
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Anglican
Presbyterian

Catholic

Anti-English
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Anti-Catholic
Tartanry
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Kailyard
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Crofting
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Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Inverness
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Gaelic
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Scots
Doric
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Anglican
Presbyterian

Catholic
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Anti-English
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Anti-Catholic
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Tartanry
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Kailyard
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Crofting
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Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Portree
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Gaelic
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Scots
Doric
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Anglican
Presbyterian

Catholic

Anti-English
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Anti-Catholic
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Tartanry
Kailyard
Crofting
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Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Glasgow
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Gaelic
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Scots
Doric
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Anglican
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Presbyterian
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Catholic
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Anti-English
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Anti-Catholic
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Tartanry
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Kailyard
Crofting
Jacobitism
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Shetland and Orkney
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Invaded and populated by Vikings in the 8th century
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Given to Scotland until the dowry for Queen Margaret
could be raised
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Scotland refuses the dowry payment, keeps the islands
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Norn, a Scandinavian dialect, dies out in the late 18th
century without being written down
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Possibility of a “no” – “no” vote in the 1997 referendum
raised questions of transferral to Westminster
Variations on Scottish Identity:
Orkney
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Norn
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Lutheran
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Anti-English
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Anti-Scottish
Kailyard
Crofting
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Scandanavian
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Variations on Scottish Identity:
Shetland
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Norn
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Lutheran
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Anti-English
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Anti-Scottish
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Kailyard
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Crofting
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Scandanavian
Variations on Scottish Identity:
Shetland
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Norn
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Lutheran
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Anti-English
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Anti-Scottish
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Kailyard
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Crofting
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Scandanavian
Emergent Questions:
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How do theories of ethnic identity formation account
for Scottish heterogeneity?
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How can the relative success of ethnopolitical
mobilization in Scotland be explained, given this
heterogeneity?
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What explains the complacency regarding funding for
Gaelic media and education, considering the low levels
of Gaelic-speaking, as well as the relative paucity for
demands for other language education and media?
Future Research Possibilities:
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Replication of findings
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Project linking findings to political questions
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Shetlander / Orcadian mobilization