A2 Government and Politics: Political Ideas and Ideologies

The struggle for Scottish independence is, at its heart, an anti-colonial struggle. It is worth stating that upfront, for although it is implicit in a lot of the analyses that socialists bring to bear on the independence movement, many shy away from using the term. The nation state is a problematic entity for socialists. All but the most committed Stalinist would recognise that socialism in one country is impossible. There is no Scottish road to socialism. However, Scottish independence is a blow at the heart of imperialism, a fracture in the hegemony of the Western powers and their dominance. And as such it is a step towards genuine socialism, a socialism which can be nothing but global. The referendum in 2014 is an opportunity to throw off the shackles of empire, not only for the good of the people who live in Scotland, but for peoples across the world.