Scotland's greatest thinker, a world scholar and, we are proud to report, a regular openDemocracy contributor, is 80 this year. We wish him a long life! Gerry Hassan tells his readers in Scotland to honour him and Anthony Barnett provides a few links to some of his articles.
In a revised extract from his introduction to a new biography of Tommy Sheridan, Gerry Hassan exposes the weaknesses of Scotland’s belief in its solid left-wing culture and raises questions for independence and the future.
A high-stakes constitutional tussle over the future of the United Kingdom is under way. The political transformation of Scotland since the 1950s will help to shape the outcome, says David Hayes.
Being part of the Union makes Scotland stronger, safer, richer and fairer. So says David Cameron, but Scotland is building an alternative vision of itself as a nation, outside the parameters of the neo-liberal model.
The Prime Minister has conceded that there will be a Scottish independence referendum and argued the case for the Union on these terms. This is a historic moment for Britain. openDemocracy asks its readers for their response in an open forum on the future of the Union.
The SNP wish to lower the age of franchise for Scotland's independence referendum to 16 years of age. Is it wise to ask 'wee bairns' to make the biggest decision the country has faced for a generation?
The Prime Minister's Edinburgh speech on the Union was a historic moment for British politics. Now Scots must find their answer to his claim that Scotland in the Union is 'stronger, safer, richer and fairer'.
Whitehall has been forced to accept the right of the Scottish people to control their vote on independence. It must not retain a veto over a referendum on Irish unity.
The debate over the Scottish independence referendum plays into the old labels: unionism versus nationalism. Scotland needs to reach beyond these and ask difficult questions if there is to be real change.
The Scottish independence referendum may be more than a question of 'in' or 'out'. Would a third option - devo max - empower the people through more choice, or muddy the waters?
Crucial to the argument for Scottish independence is the idea that leaving the political union of the United Kingdom will not mean leaving the social union. But what is this 'social union'?
Around the globe, new forms of governance are being sought to counter-balance the hyper-empire of global capitalism. Scotland is developing its own resistance, could England follow suit?
