Depolarising Nationalism

Abstract

This study looks at a cultural component of Scottish nationalism and presents a novel understanding of state-church relations concerning nationalism in the twenty-first century. It offers an in-depth analysis of decisions and strategies employed by religious actors in dealing with the Scottish independence referendum of 2014. In contrast to the nationalist polarisation fuelled by exclusionary claims of national religion in contemporary democracies such as India, Poland or the USA, religion in Scotland depolarised nationalism. Most churches were willing to risk the existing state-church hierarchy of a national church for the religious autonomy inherent in ecumenism. The study discusses religious pluralism and equality as mechanisms through which religion depolarises nationalism and enables democracy.