Scottish Independence Vote in 2014 and its Nationalist Dimension

Abstract

The article concerns one of the most important referenda in the history of the United Kingdom – a vote on Scotland’s independence to be held at the end of the 2014, following the Scottish National Party’s (SNP’s) victory in the Scottish elections in 2011. The referendum may become decisive to the future of the Kingdom and its likely break-up; likewise it may trigger a serious debate on Scotland’s political and legal status in the British national power structures. Above all, the article aims at analysing the issue of Scottish nationalism and the chances of nationalist movement on the political scene. The reforms conducted so far, i.e. the enlargement of Scottish autonomy, including the re-establishing of Parliament in Holyrood in 1999, have not satisfied the Scottish electorate’s aspirations. The article attempts to answer whether the SNP’s popularity is due to Scots’ being tired of the traditional political power structures and their dependence on Westminster, or whether it is an authentic sign of maturity and conviction that Scotland may gain economically and politically becoming independent of Westminster.