The limits and potential of civic nationalism: The case of the Scottish National Party.

详细信息   

• 作者：Hamilton ; Paul Hunter.
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2000
• 导师：Adkin, Laurie
• 毕业院校：University of Alberta
• 专业：Political Science, General.
• ISBN：9780612595958
• CBH：NQ59595
• Country：Canada
• 语种：English
• FileSize：18538029
• Pages：349

文摘

Nationalism, justifiably, has been vilified for its chauvinistic, atavistic and exclusionary characteristics. Overlooked by many observers is the potential of national to serve as a foundation for collective action which may then be used for progressive political purposes. This thesis examines the potential of the civic-nationalist discourse of the Scottish National party to serve as a non-ethnic, non-exclusionary social movement for the enhancement of Scottish democracy and sovereignty. Issues of sovereignty, identity and sovereignty are examined through an analysis of the official discourse of the party. The three areas examined are critical features of a nationalist party's discourse. A thorough examination of each yields the evidence on which to draw conclusions about the limits and potential of civic nationalism for providing the foundation for local resistance to neo-liberal globalization. The discussion of sovereignty considers the impact of economic globalization and Scotland's membership in the European Union. The volatility of the global oil market and the mobility of financial capital constitute threats to the objectives of the Scottish National Party's social policy agenda. The European Union also threatens to intrude upon Scottish sovereignty by reducing the scope for independent policy-making by a Scottish government. Identity is examined in order to determine the commitment of the Scottish National party to a non-ethnic, non-exclusive conception of political community. The party has made a determined effort to transcend societal cleavages of gender, race, religion and sexual identity within the limitations of the party's broad commitment to liberal values of equality. Finally, the extent to which the Scottish National Party's civic nationalism can create the conditions for a robust and renewed Scottish democracy is analyzed. The party's commitment to a written constitution, as well as electoral reform contains the promise of remedying the democratic deficit with which Scotland has had to deal with in the United Kingdom.