recent articles
So who will speak for a better Scotland?
So who will speak out for a better Scotland? Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, February 4th 2012 Human beings have a need to associate, to feel they belong and to be part of wider groupings. We all recognise this, but we also know some of the limits: the power and negativity of being in a gang, tribe or group, of including and excluding. In my life many things have defined how I see myself and how I interpret the world: various values, philosophies, labels and outlooks, from politics to culture to of course, football. I used to define myself
We need to have a One Question Referendum. It is that simple!
We need to have a One Question Referendum. It is that simple! Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, January 28th 2012 The Scottish Government has announced its suggested question for the forthcoming referendum, ‘Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?’ At the same time it has suggested that ‘civic Scotland’ might like to organise, define itself and the idea of ‘devo max’, and ask a second question. This sounds attractive on first hearing. Two questions would allow ‘devo max’ to be on the ballot paper reflecting some argue where the majority or the largest group of
Continue Reading We need to have a One Question Referendum. It is that simple!
The Battle for Britain: A Note for Independistas and Anti-Independistas
The Battle for Britain: A Note for Independistas and Anti-Independistas Gerry Hassan Open Democracy, January 25th 2012 January 25th 2012, Burns Night, will be remembered as a historic, watershed day for Scotland and the UK. Alex Salmond announced to the Scottish Parliament his government’s proposed question for the autumn 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, ‘Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?’ This was he said ‘short, straightforward and clear’ (1). The Scottish Government consultation paper, ‘Your Scotland, Your Referendum’ (2) is a cogent, thoughtful document, offering the vision of a modern, progressive Scotland at ease with
Continue Reading The Battle for Britain: A Note for Independistas and Anti-Independistas
The Beginning of the Break-up of Britain: The Consequences and Potential of Scottish Independence
The Beginning of the Break-up of Britain: The Consequences and Potential of Scottish Independence National Library of Iceland Lecture, January 20th 2012 1. Introduction I am going to talk about the following:
- What is the United Kingdom?
- How did we get here: a short backstory
- Independence: Constitutionally
- Independence: Practically
- Independence: Politically
- Wider Context
The Self-Preservation Society of Civic Scotland
The Self-Preservation Society of ‘Civic Scotland’ Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, January 21st 2012 ‘Civic Scotland’ has been spotted these last few weeks, out in public, on manoeuvres, laying out their claims to be not forgotten in ‘the great debate’ about to ensue. The official story of ‘civic Scotland’ matters because various people in the voluntary sector, trade unions and churches are articulating a very partial version of history to justify their place and stance now. And at the minimum we should, like every aspect of public life, put this and its claims under proper scrutiny. ‘Civic Scotland’ says that
Continue Reading The Self-Preservation Society of Civic Scotland
The Scotland of a Different Generation and The Last Game of ‘the 42’
The Scotland of a Different Generation and The Last Game of ‘the 42’ Part Two Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, January 18th 2012 The whole day out to Peterhead was enjoyable and entertaining and made me reflect. This was a warm, sociable group of Celtic fans. There were no pub bores or people who dominated the conversation of the whole bus. There was leadership, organisation and a culture of soft collective discipline. Some of the songs being sung on the way up wouldn’t pass the Offensive Behaviour Act 2011. But what do I make of that? Singing of the hunger
Continue Reading The Scotland of a Different Generation and The Last Game of ‘the 42’
Football, Friendship and ‘the 42’
Football, Friendship and ‘the 42’ Part One Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, January 17th 2012 Many things matter to Scots: politics, culture, religion, the list is endless and varied. But to many nothing matters more in life than one thing: football or more accurately, their football club. In the last few years myself and my best friend Eddie have undertake a tour of the Scottish 42 football teams, from the big grounds of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) to the once big teams making up Division One, and the struggling minnows of the lower divisions. Nearly all human life
The Story of a Northern Rebellion and how it could remake Britain
The Story of a Northern Rebellion and how it could remake Britain Gerry Hassan New Statesman, January 16th 2012 The Westminster parties have a northern problem but they do not know what it is or what to do. Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister, stands all-conquering, a nationalist hero to some; a one-man band of “El-Presidente Salmond” to others. The SNP’s “big tent” politic, social democratic and pro-business, leaves the opposition with little terrain to mark out; redolent of Tony Blair and New Labour at their peak in 1997. How has this happened in
Continue Reading The Story of a Northern Rebellion and how it could remake Britain
When ‘Two Tribes’ Go To War: Why Independence Needs to Understand the Union Case
When ‘Two Tribes’ Go To War: Why Independence Needs to Understand the Union Case Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, January 14th 2012 This week Scotland exploded onto the UK and international stage. The constitutional debate and independence have become the talk of Westminster and across the world. Pro-union forces have been caricaturing the independence camp as ‘separatists’ with even the British Government paper published this week having contained within its title the phrase: ‘whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom’. Independence supporters like to think they are above this. Yet they have a tendency to think the union is
Continue Reading When ‘Two Tribes’ Go To War: Why Independence Needs to Understand the Union Case
The Possible Scotlands of the Future
The Possible Scotlands of the Future Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, January 13th 2012 The Scottish independence story has become one of the UK’s hottest stories, forcing Westminster and London politicians and correspondents to gen up quickly about Scotland and Scottish politics as they try to make sense of what is going on. Scottish independence and self-government are not about an old-fashioned nationalist movement drawing from reactionary ideas, but a profoundly modern, pro-European, centre-left politics. The debate of independence versus the union has already seen battlelines drawn, David Cameron and Alex Salmond engage in the first of what will
