Issue 79: Transformation: can Scotland spread its wings
Five writers consider what would have to happen after independence if Scotland was genuinely to transform itself. PLus trade unions and Labour, World War 1 and nationalising energy
Issue 79
Can Scotland Spread Its Wings?
Nov – Dec 2013
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Comment
Grangemouth, the shipyard job losses, continuing austerity; in these dark days for Scottish society, we need answers and not just soundbites
Democracy in writing
Jean Urquhart argues that the chance to write a constitution for Scotland is the chance to enshrine participative democracy - as long as the process is not left to the politicians.
Solid foundations for change
Michael Keating outlines two future models for an independent Scotland and explains that if we want to pick the best of these it is too late to wait for democracy to fix bad systems
Our share of the future
The process of negotiating the terms of separation if there is a Yes vote has been presented as one in which Scotland is bullied and weakened. Robin McAlpine argues that this is completely the wrong way to see negotiations.
Graveyard or get-together
Isobel Lindsay looks at the history of setting up new political parties and expresses little faith that such an initiative in post-referendum Scotland would be any more successful. However, there are alternatives...
Welfare Nation State
John McInally argues that if a vision emerges in the independence referendum debate for investment, rather than cuts, in public services that are democratically run to meet the needs of all Scots, they will be on to a winner.
Labour and the trade unions
In light of another period of debate about the relationships between the unions and the Labour Party, we ask three writers to give their perspectives - Gregor Gall, Richard Leonard and Bob Crow
Real energy answers
Andy Cumber, author of a Reid Foundation report on how to take Scotland’s energy back into public ownership, explains why tolerating the current energy market in Britain makes no sense
The logic of conflict
As an antidote to the burgeoning jingoism as the centenary ‘celebrations’ of the First World War approach, Neil Davidson outlines the real causes behind the conflict
When Growth Fails Us
Spanish sociologist Ernest Garcia explains why returning to growth is increasingly less plausible and discusses the ramifications in an interview with James Kelly.
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