{"id":397,"date":"2014-09-17T14:38:51","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T14:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/?p=397"},"modified":"2015-10-13T19:04:29","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T19:04:29","slug":"scotlands-vote-for-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/2014\/09\/17\/scotlands-vote-for-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"Scotland’s Independence Referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week Scotland goes to the polls for a fundamental decision: should it declare independence from the United Kingdom?\u00a0Discover Society<\/i> has an excellent summary of the issue<\/span><\/a>, and everyone from The Economist<\/i><\/span><\/a>, <\/i>to Jacobin<\/i><\/span><\/a> <\/i>(on both sides<\/span><\/a>), to The Simpsons\u2019 Groundskeeper Willie<\/span><\/a> has weighed in on the debate. The \u201cYes\u201d side argues for \u201cembedded independence\u201d\u2014separate nationhood but with strong financial and regulatory ties to the rest of the UK\u2014claiming an independent Scotland can provide better social services to the people. The \u201cNo\u201d side thinks the status quo with the UK and the rest of Europe is a good deal, but is willing to compromise with the devolution of some welfare and tax policies back to national control. With a black and white vote, though, social scientists often have to look at the bigger forces behind nuanced policy issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the meat of the debate is about public policy, accusations of \u201cnationalism\u201d fly in the background. Sociologists can be critical of nationalism; Puri’s work shows how it shapes the desires of society in both progressive and troubling ways. However, authors like Calhoun remind us\u00a0that national identity also helps\u00a0create a necessary sense of belonging and social solidarity. Either way, national sentiment is neither unimportant nor just irrationally passionate.<\/h5>\n