Abstract

Independence has been a contested issue in Scotland since the region was first invaded by England in 1707, and the realm continues to linger in a no-man’s land between regional status and full sovereignty. The issue of independence has risen to the forefront of Scottish discussion in the past fifty years and Murray Pittock offers here an examination of modern Scottish nationalism and what it means for the United Kingdom.
            Pittock charts Scotland’s economic, cultural, and social histories, focusing on the history and cultural impact of Scottish cities and industries, the role of multiculturalism in contemporary Scottish society, and the upheaval of devolution, including the 2007 election of Scotland’s first nationalist government. From the architecture and art of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the Scottish Parliament, the book investigates every aspect of modern Scottish society to explain the striking rise of Scottish nationalism since 1960. The Road to Independence? reveals a new perspective on modern Scottish culture, making it an invaluable read for history scholars and lovers of Scotland alike.
 
"As an introduction to an outsider, this book could hardly be improved on: it's lively, lucid, witty, beautifully written. Pittock has things to say about everything from kilts at weddings to Catholic schools, from Braveheart to bridge tolls." — Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman
"A well arranged exposition of the various pressures and stresses Scottish society has faced and faces still." — Diplomat
Murray Pittock is the A. C. Bradley Professor of Literature at tGlasgow University and the author of several books, including A New History of Scotland, Scottish Nationality, and Inventing and Resisting Britain.