Political Activism and Agnecy under Austerity and Brexit
A study of activism against austerity in Britain from the financial crisis of 2008 through the Brexit vote of 2016. It finds that austerity has been a key factor in creating new dividing lines in British society and intensifying old divisions.
Contesting the austerity and “welfare reform” narrative of the UK Government: Forging a social democratic imaginary in Scotland
The Scottish government fuses nationalism with social wage and social investment concepts. It conjures up images of a prosperous, community led, egalitarian welfare state as a future reality. It recuperates “welfare” as a collective endeavour. It describes austerity as a poor distribution of resources between groups and within the UK as the “problem”.
Left-wing regionalist populism in the ‘Celtic’ peripheries: Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party’s anti-austerity challenge against the British elites
This article shows that the SNP and Plaid Cymru have adopted a left-wing populist discourse, based on a critique of austerity policies.
Nationalism and the politics of austerity: comparing Catalonia, Scotland, and Québec
This analysis of the impact of austerity on nationalism stresses the role of blame as it interacts with political institutions and fiscal pressures.
The SNP must rethink its economic model for an independent Scotland
A critique of the Growth Commission's report. "Far from being an asset to the independence cause, the Growth Commission is its biggest liability. It’s time, as we say, ‘tae think again’."
Scotland, Brexit and Broken Promise of Democracy
The perception of a democratic deficit began in the Thatcher premiership, long before Brexit. Scottish self government came to be positively linked with European intergation.
Would an independent Scotland have to keep the pound and cut public spending?
A report suggests an independent Scotland would have to make public expenditure reduction. he report actually says that public spending could continue to grow. This does depend on sufficient growth in the economy after independence.