In every SLR between now and the referendum we’ll pick a policy issue and ask four writers from across the spectrum of constitutional opinion to argue the pros and cons of independence. In this issue we look at defence.
Reviews of Counter Power: Making Change Happen and New Parties of the Left - Experiences from Europe
‘NO COPULATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION’ PLEA
With the local government elections looming we look at the health of local democracy in Scotland
Scotland is facing a real problem of democracy - local democracy
Proportional elections and the greater freedom of the Concordat should have prompted a renaissance in local government. Peter McColl argues that more must be done if there is to be a transformation of local politics.
Lesley Riddoch and Eberhard Bort compare the genuinely local politics of our near neighbours to the large and remote local authorities in Scotland and find a very clear case for reform
Joseph Ritchie looks at theories of pacifism and non-violence and argues that they are not the same thing as ‘self-policing’ of the anti-capitalism movement which may weaken the message
Tom O’Hara looks at the origins of socialist utopian novels and their relevance to the left today and argues that while they may seem naive, they at least offered a real sense of alternative
Patricia Walls offers an Irish-feminist perspective on how the Scots tackle ‘sectarianism’ and argues that academic complacency is simply exacerbating the misunderstanding of the problem