Aye or non? Books Comparing Scottish and Quebec Nationalism

All eyes are on the Scottish referendum today as Scots decide whether to stay in the UK or become an independent nation. A high turnout is expected and the results won’t be known until the early hours of Friday morning. The suspense until then resonates all too well with people in Quebec who remember the referendums of 1980 and 1995.

There’s an air of déjà vu in the province as polls show an outcome as close as the 1995 referendum. The similarities between Scottish and Quebec sovereignty movements have drawn attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Scots have looked at the history of the Quebec referendums (here and here), opting for a more clear, direct question for voters: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Parti Québécois politicians are also making note of Scotland’s Yes campaign strategies on rallying support for independence (read about that here).

McGill-Queen’s has published two books, Hierarchies of Belonging (2007) and Liberal Nationalisms (2013), that compare the political and cultural contexts of nationalism in both Quebec and Scotland.

HIERARCHIES OF BELONGING: National Identity and Political Culture in Scotland and Quebec
By Ailsa Henderson (2007)

A comparative analysis of the sociology of belonging in two diverse cultures in the developed West – Scotland and Quebec.

Nationalism has long been a potent political force in Scotland and Quebec. Hierarchies of Belonging explores the construction of national identity and nationalism and its effect on how citizens of Scotland and Quebec understand their relationship to the nation and the state. More info >

**Ailsa Henderson, now head of politics and international relations at the University of Edinburgh, was on CBC last week discussing the various campaign strategies used by both sides of the Scottish referendum. She was also featured on BBC providing her Canadian perspective on Scottish independence, and will be on BBC this evening to cover the referendum.**

LIBERAL NATIONALISMS: Empire, State, and Civil Society in Scotland and Quebec
By James Kennedy (2013)

A revealing comparative history of nationalist politics in Scotland and Quebec.

The early twentieth century witnessed the emergence of Scottish and Quebec nationalisms that were closely intertwined with liberal philosophies. The Young Scots’ Society and the Ligue nationaliste canadienne carried these liberal nationalist ideas. This book offers a comparative and historical examination of their ideas and politics. More info >

**Stay tuned for the paperback edition in our Spring 2015 catalogue!**