For most of the time that the Scottish National Party (SNP) has existed, public attitudes towards it have ranged from indifference to hostility or bafflement. Until fairly recently it was hardly taken seriously as a political grouping and was largely ignored. All this changed in May, 2015, when in the General Election for the Westminster Parliament, the SNP won 56 of 59 seats in a historic landslide. It is generally acknowledged that much of the credit for this victory goes to Scotland's chief minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who far outmatched any of the other political leaders in pre-election debates. Paradoxically, it appears to have been the campaign and the aftermath of the previous referendum on Scottish Independence in which the "no's" won, that led to a phenomenal rise in SNP membership. With the defeat of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, the SNP now replaces the latter as the third force in Westminster politics. Scottish Independence now seems nearer than ever.

A gripping history of the Security Service and its covert surveillance on British writers and intellectuals in the twentieth century. In the popular imagination MI5, or the Security Service, is know chiefly as the branch of the British state responsible for chasing down those who pose a threat to the country's national security--from Nazi fifth columnists during the Second World War, to Soviet spies during the Cold War and today's domestic extremists. Yet, aided by the release of official documents to the National Archives, David Caute argues in this radical and revelatory history of the Security Service in the twentieth century, suspicion often fell on those who posed no threat to national security. Instead, this 'other history' of MI5, ignored in official accounts, was often as not fuelled by the political prejudices of MI5's personnel, and involved a huge programme of surveillance against anyone who dared question the status quo. Caute, a prominent historian and expert on the history of the Cold War, tells the story of the massive state operation to track the activities of a range of journalists, academics, scientists, filmmakers, writers and others who, during the twentieth century, the Security Service perceived as a threat to the national interest. Those who were tracked include such prominent figures as Kingsley Amis, George Orwell, Doris Lessing, John Berger, Benjamin Britten, Eric Hobsbawm, Michael Foot, Harriet Harman, and others.

In September 2014, a referendum will be held in Scotland to decide whether or not Scotland should become independent and cease to be part of Great Britain.In this book, two of the nation’s leading political commentators will address both sides of this historic argument. George Kerevan will put forward the case for voting Yes, and Alan Cochrane will make the case for voting No. In one book, the first title in this Great Debate series, readers will be given the strongest possible arguments for both sides, fully preparing them to make up their own minds on a decision that will shape the future of Scotland and of Great Britain.

In September of 1997 Scots voted overwhelmingly for the establishment of a modern democratic parliament - their first parliament in almost three hundred years. How did this remarkable constitutional change come about? Jonathan Hearn explores this question by examining how claims for greater political autonomy in Scotland today draw on deeper cultural traditions of political thought and action. Scotland's civic nationalism voices a moral critique of neoliberalism and a communitarian defence of the idea of the welfare state, grounding these in Scottish culture and identity. By placing this movement and its language in their institutional, historical and cultural contexts, this powerful book challenges the conventional distinctions between liberalism and nationalism, and between civic and ethnic forms of nationalism, by arguing for a more nuanced way of thinking about processes of culture, identity and politics. Key Features*An anthropological perspective on Scottish nationalism*An ethnographic, highly readable presentation of the subject*A synthetic treatment of nationalism and liberalism*An in-depth critique of the ethnic/civic dichotomy in nationalism studies

For a thinly populated mountainous country on the fringe of Europe, Scotland casts a disproportionately large spell on the world. Its mix of great cities, popular festivals, historic golf courses and breathtaking countryside has long proved an enduring favourite with visitors. Ranging from the heritage of Edinburgh and the art galleries of Glasgow to the wild landscape of its lochs and highlands, Scotland's treasures never fail to surprise and thrill. The Globetrotter Travel Guide to Scotland introduces the reader to the country's history, people, culture, wildlife and economy and then focuses on the really worthwhile sights and places of interest to visit. The concise, user-friendly text is packed with travel tips, information panels, full-colour photographs, maps and suggested excursions, enabling the visitor to make the most of the time available.

Though Henderson is a major figure in Scottish cultural history, his reputation is largely maintained in anecdote and song. This study describes the ambitious moral-intellectual programme to reintegrate the artist in society at the heart of all of his endeavors.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Scotland is a comprehensive, illustrated reference guide to Scotland. It presents an overview of the country in a wide perspective: its varied landscapes, towns and their buildings, its past and present, and above all its people, their occupations and pastimes. This encyclopedia also provides an illustrated portrait of Scotland now and in the past, covering history, the arts, industry, science, commerce, medicine, sport, politics, religion, architecture and popular culture. The aim of this encyclopedia is to give a wide range of information in an accessible form. Many topics are given extended entries, such as the main cities, the clans, the Enlightenment, language, the law, parliament, golf and whisky. Entries are cross-referenced, and each topic has been researched and reviewed by experts in their field. For additional information there is a list of further reading, lists of Scottish festivals and societies, and maps indicating the changes to local government boundaries both in 1975 and in 1996.