About Gerry Hassan

Gerry Hassan is a writer, policy analyst and researcher. His website is www.gerryhassan.com

Articles by Gerry Hassan

A Radical Scotland is needed to challenge our forces of conservatism

Who represents Scotland's radical traditions, and what does the future look like? A new book, 'Scotland's Road to Socialism', prompts this question, and explores some uncomfortable truths for the Scottish left.

Nigel Farage, the Scottish debate and the future of Europe

UKIP's rise is the clearest sign yet of the crisis of Britain as a progressive, liberal project. Nigel Farage's trip to Scotland and his prickly reception helps us understand the difference between the UKIP and Scottish independence projects.

Scotland and the EU: a tale of two referenda

Scotland's place in the Union, Britain's place in the EU. Two referenda are on the horizon, but the debates around each are strangely divorced from each other.

Scottish independence, Europe and the crisis of the British state

The Scottish nationalists want to win next years independence vote by saying things will not change while those opposing them paint 'separation' as a disaster yet call for the UK to leave the EU in order to... stay the same. What are we to make of it?

The power of the past after Thatcher

Britain has long been a country that looks back to a romanticised, recreated past. But what kind of country will we be celebrating and mourning with Thatcher's funeral tomorrow?

Games with shadows: living in Thatcher’s Scotland

We live in Thatcher’s Britain - that statement is obvious, yet contentious and deeply divisive. And this is all the more true north of the border.

Four nations and a funeral: the demise of the British welfare state

Today sees the transformation of the British welfare system, combining crippling cuts to benefits with the full blown marketisation of England's NHS. This is Cameron's "compassionate conservatism". Scotland and the UK must find a different way.

Mind the Gap: Gender and the Debate over Scotland’s Future

Recent polling shows a big gender gap in Scottish attitudes to independence, with women far more pro-union. How should this be understood in the wider context of Scottish politics and what does it tell us about the motivations of the Yes and No camps?

Independence vote day is set, now let’s recognise we are One Scotland

Leading thinker on Scotland and our long-time contributor, Gerry Hassan, sheds a tear as the Big Day is set. What we need now, he says, is a non-partisan debate on the potential of a self-governing Scotland.

The UKIP policy Nigel Farage doesn’t want to talk about

UKIP would effectively return the UK to its pre-devolution settlement in all but name, yet the media are failing to expose or question this.

The Scots and power: the Cardinal, John Haldane and Glasgow Rangers FC

The Scottish Catholic Church was hit with a sex abuse scandal last week, while the Rangers football team defended itself against evidence of tax avoidance and illegality. Contrary to how Scotland likes to see itself, it is weak at holding power to account. These two unfolding scandals show this has to change.

Dreaming of a different Scotland: alt independence and alt unionism

It isn't enough that we aren't Thatcherites and free-marketeers, visions of the sort of Scotland we want to build must escape the confines of current conservatism and move beyond oppositional formulations. Scotland must be a positive proposition.

The Scotland of the Democratic Future: some tentative lessons from Chile

Scotland's experience cannot be compared to a brutal dictatorship, yet there are parallels to be drawn between the debate over the coming independence referendum and the anti-Pinochet campaign as depicted in the recently released film 'NO'. Can a message of hope and fun work in Scotland as it did in Chile?

A lesson from Anzio: Scots do not need to cling to the wreckage of Britain

Scots like all Britons share a history of fighting to rescue Europe from fascism. On the anniversary of its decisive battle on the Eastern Front, the Britain built after 1945 is no more. In Scotland it is time to salute those who fought by declaring self-government.

Manifesto for a culture of self-determination

Scotland is at a crossroads. Here are a dozen steps (and an extra one, for luck) that could help Scots forge together a modern, progressive, democratic nation in control of its own future.

Time for a different BBC Scotland (and STV too)

The ambition of BBC Scotland has always been held back with the burden of 'looking both ways', with no  ambiguity as to where the real power lies. Scotland needs its own 'Scotish Broadcasting Corporation' driven by courage, vision and leadership from the people. 

How the world of Eton sees Scotland and Scottish Independence

In the same week that the terms of the referendum on Scottish independence were agreed, a debate on Scotland was held at Eton College. So what do the posh boys think?

'Independence is about cultural and societal transformation': an open letter to Alex Salmond

As the 100 week countdown to the Scottish independence referendum begins, Alex Salmond must take the opportunity to break from the establishment and open the space for a national engagement with the question of self-government.  

The ‘New Tartan Tories’ of Scottish Public Life

Hyperbole and misinformation swamp the Scottish headlines as the independence referendum draws closer. How can radical thought overcome 'phantom Tories' and provide the framework to overcome the nation’s toxic cocktail of populism and complacency? 

Universal benefits and the soul of Scottish democracy

Johann Lamont’s attack on benefit culture in Scotland marks a significant intervention in the nation’s political landscape. As Scottish Labour seek to differentiate themselves further from the SNP the inseparable bond between constitutional change and social justice takes centre stage. 

This week's guest editors

openGlobalRights editors

Our guest editors James Ron, Leslie Vinjamuri, Sophie Arie and Archana Pandya introduce this week's theme of:

Emerging powers and human rights.

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