The leading philosopher and friend of openDemocracy Tom Nairn has died at the age of 90. Nairn was one of the world's most important theorists of nationalism; British and Scottish nationalism in particular. His 1977 book 'The Break-Up of Britain' was described by openDemoracy's founder Anthony Barnett as "the most important book on British politics in the last half century". In the essay below, first published in 2020, Adam Ramsay drew on Nairn's ideas to argue for a radical rethinking of the British state. It contains what we believe to be Nairn's last interview. You can also read two decades of Nairn's writing for oD here.
I cried into my under-salted porridge.
We’d got back from a midwife’s appointment to find our free baby box from the Scottish government on the doorstep, and unpacking it brought a bubble of joy.
