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# A parallel moment not to be missed: for old nations, new times
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/parallel-moment-not-to-be-missed-for-old-nations-new-times/
- Published: 2014-10-10T17:10:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-22T10:16:05.000Z
- Description: Anthony Barnett on the rise of UKIP at a particular moment for Scotland and England. (Video)
- Author: Anthony Barnett
- Tags: Europe, #Migrated, Politics & activism, United Kingdom, Scotland, Scotland's future, Democracy and government, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 15:58, #appended-excerpt

On the eve of the Scottish Independence Referendum, Luath publishing launched a [collection of essays](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910021644/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1910021644&linkCode=as2&tag=opendemocra0e-21&linkId=H25KCM4NJRVEMJ3E&ref=opendemocracy.net) by the foremost Scottish political philosopher and theorist, Tom Nairn. Anthony Barnett was one of the panellists and he took the opportunity to talk about the interesting coincidence of two moments of the break-up of Britain: what had already been achieved by Scotland's referendum and the rise of UKIP. You can find this comparison at the following times: at [8mins 54sec](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS287GmhpCw&t=8m54s&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [1 hr 15 mins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS287GmhpCw&t=75m16s&ref=opendemocracy.net)

Enjoy the whole of this celebratory evening of an 'Enlightenment philosopher's' lifelong work. Speakers at the book launch also include Pete Ramand, Jamie Maxwell, Isobel Lindsay, Tariq Ali, and Neil Ascherson as well as Tom Nairn. *(Video, 1 hr, 23 minutes)*

Anthony Barnett on the rise of UKIP at a particular moment for Scotland and England. *(Video)*