That was Then and This is Now: Imagining new stories about a northern nation Gerry Hassan Scotland has changed in the last 20 years. It has been transformed economically, socially, culturally and politically. It has a degree of self-government and a new set of political institutions. However, the way we think of and describe Scotland has not undergone a similar change; instead it is still rooted in a romanticised rose-tinted view of a past Scotland that is now long since gone. This chapter looks at the extent of change in Scotland over this period and the kind of changes

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Scotland in the Global Age: Rethinking Ukania, Europe and the New International Order Tom Nairn and George Kerevan in conversation This is a longer version of a conversation of which an abridged edition appeared in Gerry Hassan, Eddie Gibb and Lydia Howland (eds), Scotland 2020: Hopeful Stories for a Northern Nation, Demos 2005. Edinburgh October 5th 2004 Dear Tom, I feel like an old soldier parading for the Armistice, medals proudly on show, but just a bit quizzical about what we achieved in the conflict. For you and I are battle-scarred veterans of the Second Devolutionary War. The

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Scotland’s ‘Velvet Revolution’ Carol Craig in conversation with Tom Devine Published in Gerry Hassan, Eddie Gibb and Lydia Howland (eds), Scotland 2020: Hopeful Stories for a Northern Nation, Demos 2005. CC: I would like to start with a general discussion about Scotland and transformational change. The author of The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell, argues that people tend to see change as slow and incremental when in fact it is often rapid and transformatory. He argues that snow is a good example of this. When snow falls the temperature change is often minimal yet within minutes the world looks different. As

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Changin’ Scotland No. 5  November 19-21st 2004 Sheena Wellington, Bryan Beattie, Rita Hunter and Michael Russell on the Cultural Commission, Harry Reid and Bernard Aspinwall on the Scots and religion, Robbie the Pict on a life of campaigning, Michael Russell and Sergio Burns on their latest books, plus the film ‘Peace One Day’ on the campaign for an international day of peace.

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Changin’ Scotland No. 4  March 12-14th 2004 Tom Devine on the Scots and Empire, Bob Crampsey and Ian Black on Scottish football, David Hayman on ‘Spirit Aid’, George Kerevan, Caroline Leckie MSP, Eleanor Scott MSP and Kenny MacAskill MSP on the politics and culture of independence and Gerry Hassan on the Scottish Labour Party. Plus John Daly and Keith Hunter explore cultural, political and personal change. Music from Blazin’ Fiddles and the Ness River Rhythm Kings.

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Happiness, Well-Being and Economic Prosperity David Bell in conversation  with Clive Hamilton Published in Gerry Hassan, Eddie Gibb and Lydia Howland (eds), Scotland 2020: Hopeful Stories for a Northern Nation, Demos 2005 Stirling September 27th 2004 Dear Clive, I enclose my opening gambit to you. 1. The growth record of the Scottish economy is somewhat below that of the UK as a whole. Nevertheless, during the 1990s and early part of the new century, the UK has experienced higher rates of growth than most of the other G8 countries with the exception of the USA. Scottish GDP per

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Labour’s  Journey from Socialism to Social Democracy: A Case Study of Gordon Brown’s Political Thought Gerry Hassan Chapter in Gerry Hassan (ed.), The Scottish Labour Party: History, Institutions and Ideas, Edinburgh University Press 2004 Gordon Brown has been a significant UK Labour politician for twenty years. For at least thirty years, from his election as MP for Dunfermline East in 1983, he has made a major contribution to Scottish Labour for at least thirty years. This chapter addresses the evolution of Brown’s political thought, and examines his understanding of socialism and social democracy. It also looks at his thinking

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Changin’ Scotland No. 3 November 28-30th 2003 Wendy Alexander MSP, Fiona Hyslop MSP, George Kerevan and John Curtice on how Labour and the SNP don’t understand each other with Alex Bell, Bob Crampsey on ‘The Old Firm’ and sectarianism, Elinor Kelly on race equality alongwith Edinburgh young peoples’ film ‘Old Enough to Know Better’ about the anti-war movement and the Iraq war.

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Changin’ Scotland No. 2  March 21-23rd 2003 Iain Macwhirter, Alf Young and Alex Bell on the Scottish media, Murray Watson on the English in Scotland, Gerry Hassan on Scotland post-devolution, Joyce Macmillan on culture, Andy Wightman on local histories, Alistair MacIntosh and Anne Lorne Gilles on story and myth.

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Changin’ Scotland No. 1  November 21-23rd 2002 Tom Nairn on nationalism and globalisation in conversation with Alex Bell, Gerry Hassan on power in Scotland, Peter Lynch on the history of the SNP, Carol Craig and Janice Kirkpatrick on the Scots and confidence, Janet Paisley on stories and Andy Wightman on land reform. Music from Croft No. 5.

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