Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism

Alex Law

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

    Abstract

    This paper accounts for the lengthy emergence of civic nationalism in Scotland by locating it within British state formation processes. A spiral process of compromise and challenge characterises Scotland’s constantly evolving position within the union state. Despite the legalistic dilemmas that each challenge poses, the fissiparous process of sub-state remaking is rarely about ‘the constitution’ so much as shifts in the We-I balance expressed by deeply contested political and moral differences between formally equal but distinct partners of the ‘union state’. Relieved of direct responsibility for the organised violence of state power politics, border controls or citizenship, notwithstanding the formative role of Scots in managing the British empire, a charismatic Scottish we-ideal claims for itself the peaceful, humanist and egalitarian virtues of civic nationalism in contrast to the perfidious Machiavellianism at the heart of UK state power.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication statusPublished - 8 Sep 2017
    EventBorders, Racisms and Resistance conference - Abertay University, Dundee
    Duration: 7 Sep 2017 → 8 Sep 2017

    Conference

    ConferenceBorders, Racisms and Resistance conference
    CityDundee
    Period7/09/17 → 8/09/17

    Fingerprint

    nationalism
    Machiavellianism
    power politics
    state formation
    compromise
    constitution
    citizenship
    violence
    responsibility

    Cite this

    Law, A. (2017). Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism. Paper presented at Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference, Dundee, .
    Law, Alex. / Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism. Paper presented at Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference, Dundee, .
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    title = "Scottish exceptionalism?: Normative codes of civic nationalism",
    abstract = "This paper accounts for the lengthy emergence of civic nationalism in Scotland by locating it within British state formation processes. A spiral process of compromise and challenge characterises Scotland’s constantly evolving position within the union state. Despite the legalistic dilemmas that each challenge poses, the fissiparous process of sub-state remaking is rarely about ‘the constitution’ so much as shifts in the We-I balance expressed by deeply contested political and moral differences between formally equal but distinct partners of the ‘union state’. Relieved of direct responsibility for the organised violence of state power politics, border controls or citizenship, notwithstanding the formative role of Scots in managing the British empire, a charismatic Scottish we-ideal claims for itself the peaceful, humanist and egalitarian virtues of civic nationalism in contrast to the perfidious Machiavellianism at the heart of UK state power.",
    author = "Alex Law",
    year = "2017",
    month = "9",
    day = "8",
    language = "English",
    note = "Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference ; Conference date: 07-09-2017 Through 08-09-2017",

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    Law, A 2017, 'Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism', Paper presented at Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference, Dundee, 7/09/17 - 8/09/17.

    Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism. / Law, Alex.

    2017. Paper presented at Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference, Dundee, .

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

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    T1 - Scottish exceptionalism?

    T2 - Normative codes of civic nationalism

    AU - Law, Alex

    PY - 2017/9/8

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    N2 - This paper accounts for the lengthy emergence of civic nationalism in Scotland by locating it within British state formation processes. A spiral process of compromise and challenge characterises Scotland’s constantly evolving position within the union state. Despite the legalistic dilemmas that each challenge poses, the fissiparous process of sub-state remaking is rarely about ‘the constitution’ so much as shifts in the We-I balance expressed by deeply contested political and moral differences between formally equal but distinct partners of the ‘union state’. Relieved of direct responsibility for the organised violence of state power politics, border controls or citizenship, notwithstanding the formative role of Scots in managing the British empire, a charismatic Scottish we-ideal claims for itself the peaceful, humanist and egalitarian virtues of civic nationalism in contrast to the perfidious Machiavellianism at the heart of UK state power.

    AB - This paper accounts for the lengthy emergence of civic nationalism in Scotland by locating it within British state formation processes. A spiral process of compromise and challenge characterises Scotland’s constantly evolving position within the union state. Despite the legalistic dilemmas that each challenge poses, the fissiparous process of sub-state remaking is rarely about ‘the constitution’ so much as shifts in the We-I balance expressed by deeply contested political and moral differences between formally equal but distinct partners of the ‘union state’. Relieved of direct responsibility for the organised violence of state power politics, border controls or citizenship, notwithstanding the formative role of Scots in managing the British empire, a charismatic Scottish we-ideal claims for itself the peaceful, humanist and egalitarian virtues of civic nationalism in contrast to the perfidious Machiavellianism at the heart of UK state power.

    M3 - Paper

    ER -

    Law A. Scottish exceptionalism? Normative codes of civic nationalism. 2017. Paper presented at Borders, Racisms and Resistance conference, Dundee, .